Op-Ed: A big reason the South goes red? Gerrymandering and voter suppression
This week, the ACLU of Virginia launched a new project, “Fair Vote.” This is a new way to think about voting and the importance of a constitutional right to vote.
The ACLU is asking Americans to take action by signing a petition asking Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe to use his authority to allow non-violent felons to vote. This would apply only to non-violent offenders who can demonstrate they have “good cause” to be eligible to vote.
So far, the ACLU of Virginia’s petition has been signed by about 35,000 Virginia voters who want their governor to exercise the authority of the state legislature to restore voting rights to non-violent inmates who are now barred from voting.
This is the first time in over 70 years that Virginia has allowed felons to vote. And this election is the first time that Virginia will vote on non-violent felons voting in Virginia. That means Virginia is putting itself back on the right side of democracy.
Voter suppression could be the reason.
Let’s look at Virginia’s voting history to find the truth.
In 2004, the Supreme Court ruled that only felons could vote in Virginia.
In 2007, the Supreme Court ruled that felons who had completed their sentences could vote in Virginia.
In 2011, the Supreme Court ruled that felons could automatically vote in Virginia if they turned 18 and did not commit another felony.
In 2012, the Supreme Court ruled that felons could vote if they did not commit any new felony crimes for two years.
In 2014, the Supreme Court ruled that voters could vote from prison and that felons could vote if they did not commit new crimes.
In 2015, the Supreme Court ruled that the governor could block felons from voting.
In 2016, the Supreme Court ruled that felons with good cause to vote could vote in Virginia.
In 2017, Governor McAuliffe did what he could to make sure Virginia’s voting system was as restrictive as possible.
In June of 2017, Governor McAuliffe issued an executive order to prevent felons from being able to vote for the rest of the election cycle.
In the order, the governor said that voting would be allowed for only certain groups of felons, including:
