                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

RESTORATION OF THE CIVIL RIGHT TO BE ELIGIBLE TO REGISTER TO VOTE TO CERTAIN
PERSONS (§ 53.1-231.2)

This section shall apply to any person who is not a qualified voter because of a
felony conviction, who seeks to have his right to register to vote restored and
become eligible to register to vote, and who meets the conditions and
requirements set out in this section.
		Any person, other than a person (i) convicted of a violent felony as defined
in § 19.2-297.1 or in subsection C of § 17.1-805 and any crime ancillary
thereto; (ii) convicted of a felony pursuant to § 4.1-1101, 18.2-248,
18.2-248.01, 18.2-248.1, 18.2-255, 18.2-255.2, or 18.2-258.02; or (iii)
convicted of a felony pursuant to § 24.2-1016, may petition the circuit court
of the county or city in which he was convicted of a felony, or the circuit
court of the county or city in which he presently resides, for restoration of
his civil right to be eligible to register to vote through the process set out
in this section. On such petition, the court may approve the petition for
restoration to the person of his right if the court is satisfied from the
evidence presented that the petitioner has completed, five or more years
previously, service of any sentence and any modification of sentence including
probation, parole, and suspension of sentence; that the petitioner has
demonstrated civic responsibility through community or comparable service; and
that the petitioner has been free from criminal convictions, excluding traffic
infractions, for the same period.
		If the court approves the petition, it shall so state in an order, provide a
copy of the order to the petitioner, and transmit its order to the Secretary of
the Commonwealth. The order shall state that the petitioner&#8217;s right to be
eligible to register to vote may be restored by the date that is 90 days after
the date of the order, subject to the approval or denial of restoration of that
right by the Governor. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall transmit the
order to the Governor who may grant or deny the petition for restoration of the
right to be eligible to register to vote approved by the court order. The
Secretary of the Commonwealth shall send, within 90 days of the date of the
order, to the petitioner at the address stated on the court&#8217;s order, a
certificate of restoration of that right or notice that the Governor has denied
the restoration of that right. The Governor&#8217;s denial of a petition for the
restoration of voting rights shall be a final decision and the petitioner shall
have no right of appeal. The Secretary shall notify the court and the State
Board of Elections in each case of the restoration of the right or denial of
restoration by the Governor.
		On receipt of the certificate of restoration of the right to register to vote
from the Secretary of the Commonwealth, the petitioner, who is otherwise a
qualified voter, shall become eligible to register to vote.

HISTORY: 2000, c. 969; 2003, c. 946; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 550, 551.