Va. moving to restore voting, other rights to nonviolent felons

July 15, 2013 at 4:54p.m.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia has opened the door to an estimated 100,000 nonviolent felons to regain their right to vote.

The state outlined the steps Monday each eligible felon would have to take to cast a ballot, serve as a juror or hold political office.

Gov. Bob McDonnell announced the mass restoration of civil rights in May. He said his administration’s goal is to restore as many nonviolent felons’ rights as possible through the end of his administration.

The task, however, will not be an easy one.

The state, for instance, has no database of past felons and no electronic records were kept before 1995. For the hundreds who complete their terms each month, the restoration of rights will be automatic.

The two-year waiting period has been eliminated.