Sitting around a table at Rising Hope United Methodist Church in Alexandria, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam discussed the restoration of voting and other civil rights with a group of ex-felons, March 17, 2021. (WTOP/Melissa Howell)
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has cleared the path to the ballot for tens of thousands of ex-felons by officially reinstating their civil rights.
Sitting around a table at Rising Hope United Methodist Church in Alexandria, Northam met with a group of ex-felons discussing what it means to them to be able to vote, run for office or serve on a jury.
“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.