Democrats call on McDonnell to back off changes in felon voting rights

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Democrats call on McDonnell to back off changes in felon voting rights restoration
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2010/04/democrats_call_on_mcdonnell_to_1.html?hpid=artslot

After our story posted Saturday explained that Gov. Bob McDonnell plans to add another step for nonviolent felons to have their voting rights restored, the Virginia Young Democrats called on him to "to end his disenfranchising practices."

"Gov. McDonnell and the Republican Party have time and again showed the public their disinterest in seeing those that have paid their dues welcomed back into society," said Sean Holihan, president of the Virginia Young Democrats, which has 10,000 members in the state.

McDonnell (R) will require the offenders to submit an essay outlining their contributions to society since their release, turning a nearly automatic process into a more subjective one that some say may prevent poor, less-educated or minority residents from being allowed to vote.



http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/state_regional/state_regional_govtpolitics/article/MCDO11S1_20100410-221809/336443/
"Virginia is one of only two states whose governors solely have the right to restore a felon's right to vote," said Sean Holihan, president of the Virginia Young Democrats, in a statement. "Gov. McDonnell and the Republican Party have time and again showed the public their disinterest in seeing those that have paid their dues welcomed back into society."