Anyone convicted of a felony in Virginia automatically loses many of their civil rights, one of the most important being the right to vote. (Article II, Section 1, Constitution of Virginia)
However, the Constitution of Virginia also gives the Governor of the Commonwealth the discretion to restore many of those civil rights, with the exception of one’s firearms rights.
While in the past seeking such a restoration was daunting, today the process has been streamlined by the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office.
In order to be eligible for a restoration of civil rights, an individual must have a felony conviction, but be free from any term of incarceration and/or supervision (including supervised probation or parole) resulting from said felony conviction(s).
Once an individual’s civil rights are restored, not only is the right to vote restored, but also the ability to serve on a jury, run for public office, and become a notary republic.
For more information about the process to restore your civil rights in Virginia, contact the attorneys at Bush & Taylor, P.C., today.