The State of Virginia has eased the restoration of voting rights to former felons by no longer requiring them to pay their outstanding court fees first.
Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe said Tuesday "we have forced these men and women to battle a complicated and bewildering tangle of red tape to reach the voting booth, and too often we still turn them away."
"These men and women will still be required to pay their costs and fees, but their court debts will no longer serve as a financial barrier to voting, just as poll taxes did for so many years in Virginia," he said.
Former felons whose right have been restored have the option to include a notation in their criminal record indicating that these rights have been restored.
McAuliffe said as of June 23, Virginia has restored voting rights to more than 8,250 former convicts.
In 17 months, the McAuliffe administration has surpassed the number of restored voting rights of former convicts than any previous governor did in the latter's full four-year term.
"While Virginia has historically been resistant to voting laws that encourage participation, today's announcement represents a new commitment to opening up the democratic process," according to Secretary of the Commonwealth Levar Stoney.
About 71 percent, or nearly 6,000, of individuals whose rights have been restored under McAuliffe have registered to vote.
Virginia is one of the 12 states with the most restrictive laws governing the restoration of civil rights for individuals who have been convicted of felonies but who have completed their sentences and probation or parole.
The state has the fourth highest rate of felony disenfranchisement in the country.
"African-American enfranchisement is a national challenge, and I am pleased that Governor McAuliffe is taking aggressive action to put Virginia at the forefront of this effort," said Senator Mamie Locke.
Civil rights restored through the process include rights to register to vote, hold public office, serve on a jury and serve as a notary public.
McAuliffe previously announced additional changes to increase access and simplify the restoration of rights process, including reducing the application form from 13 pages to one page and reducing the waiting period from five to three years for more serious offences.
