Gov. Northam restores voting rights to thousands of formerly incarcerated Virginians
RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - A Virginia man is sharing his first-hand account as a former felon because he now feels he has a shot at turning around his life. He’s one of nearly 70,000 former inmates who got their civil rights restored Tuesday, and that includes the right to vote.
Governor Ralph Northam believes this is one step that can help former inmates feel they’re actually part of society again. Shawn Weneta says you don’t know how much that means when it comes to making a fresh start.
Tuesday, he raced to do something he hasn’t done in more than a decade - register to vote.
“The young lady who accepted my form sort of wondered why I was so excited because I don’t look like an 18-year-old kid,” he said.
He says there’s a good reason for that excitement. Weneta got out of prison around this time last year after serving 16 years for felony embezzlement.
“I stole money from a big company, but there were a lot of people impacted by what I did…I was a jerk before I got locked up,” he said.
Confinement has a way of making you think, and in his case, grow.
“I wouldn’t be I think the person of character and integrity that I am today had I not made those mistakes and had I not been punished and {been} held accountable for them.”
That’s why he just wanted a shot at getting it right. Part of that means having his civil rights. Tuesday, he got just that.
“Letting these folks vote or other civil rights isn’t a threat to public safety. We’re a Commonwealth that believes in second chances and we believe in forgiveness. We want people to move forward, not be tied down by the mistakes of their past,” Gov. Northam said.
“There’s a very formal ceremony putting us in prison. We go in front of the court open to the public, everyone can see it, sometimes it makes the paper…There’s nothing when people are released, it’s very quietly done…There’s no real reception of ‘hey, you’re welcomed back…You’ve made mistakes, you’ve done your time and now here’s a formal you’re welcome back into the community.’ Now, I have a nice piece of paper - with the state of Virginia seal that I watched Gov. Northam sign - that says ‘you are a full citizen again,’” Weneta added.
There’s a proposal to change the state constitution to automatically restore voting rights once inmates are released. The General Assembly passed the measure this year, but state lawmakers have to do it again next year and then the issue would be brought to voters.
Gov. Northam has restored civil rights to more than 111,000 people since he took office.
“Too many of our laws were written during a time of open racism and discrimination, and they still bear the traces of inequity,” Northam said. “We are a Commonwealth that believes in moving forward, not being tied down by the mistakes of our past. If we want people to return to our communities and participate in society, we must welcome them back fully—and this policy does just that.”
For more information on the restoration of rights, click here.
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