8/9/2019 FCDC Proposed Resolution - Democracy Restoration Act

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The Fairfax County Democratic CommitteeEndorses the Democracy Restoration Act

WHEREAS, the right to vote is the fundamental right in any Democracy and the chief obligation ofcitizenship; and

WHEREAS, the sacrifices people endured in pursuit of these rights have included the loss of life,liberty, and their ability to pursue happiness; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealths of Virginia and Kentucky are the only two states in the nation inwhich felons are disenfranchised for life unless their rights are restored in the form of gubernatorialintervention; and

WHEREAS, over 300,000 people with felony convictions are currently disenfranchised in Virginia; and

WHEREAS, felon disenfranchisement is a relic of the Jim Crow era, enforced along with the poll taxand literacy tests explicitly to disenfranchise African-American males, one in five of whom cannot votetoday in Virginia due to this injustice; and

WHEREAS, allowing people to vote after release from prison encourages participation in civic life andinstills a sense of community that motivates law-abiding behavior; and

WHEREAS, there are no clear standards for the restoration of voting rights in Virginia and no lawdictating the process by which the Governor may choose to restore rights; and

WHEREAS, legislation is pending in the U.S. Congress - the Democracy Restoration Act (S. 1516and H.R. 3335) - co-sponsored by (among others) Virginia Representatives James P. Moran andRobert Scott, that would restore the right to vote in Federal elections to all felons upon release fromprison and would affect about 5 million people nationally.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Fairfax County Democratic Committee (FCDC) urgesGovernor McDonnell to issue a blanket restoration of voting rights to all felons who have completedtheir prison terms; and

THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the FCDC urges the passage of a Virginiaconstitutional amendment restoring voting rights to all felons who have completed their prison terms;and

THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the FCDC urges all members of the Virginiadelegation to the U.S. Congress to co-sponsor and vote for the Democracy Restoration Act to restorethe right to vote in Federal elections for all felons upon release from prison.