Va. Supreme Court Strikes Down McAuliffe's Order On Felon Voting Rights

[Purveyor]

Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch

Posted: Friday, July 22, 2016 6:05 pm
BY GRAHAM MOOMAW Richmond Times-Dispatch

The Supreme Court of Virginia on Friday struck down Gov. Terry McAuliffe's sweeping executive order restoring voting rights to more than 206,000 Virginia felons.

The court declared McAuliffe's order unconstitutional, and ordered the Virginia Department of Elections to "cancel the registration of all felons who have been invalidly registered" under McAuliffe's April 22 executive order and subsequent orders. The court gave a cancellation deadline of Aug. 25.

As of this week, 11,662 felons had registered to vote as a result of McAuliffe's action.

Read more: http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/article_718d04d8-70b2-5bfb-aa8c-0ff1ca108b8d.html

[NurseJackie]

1. Well, shit! Is that the end of that? Or can this go further?

[Eric J in MN]

9. 'The governor had vowed to sign 206,000 individualized rights restoration orders.' NT

NT

[riversedge]

16. Seems like a logistical nightmare. But hope his office

keeps trying.

....Because the matter was decided by the state's highest court, McAuliffe has no option to appeal. The governor had vowed to sign 206,000 individualized rights restoration orders if the court ruled against him, but the administration has str
uggled with data errors that may complicate any mass restoration for named individuals.

[yeoman6987]

2. Oh brother. What a mess. The GOP will now start purging the 11,000

And of course add tens of thousands in the purge. There excuse? Oops.

[Firebrand Gary]

3. Next stop US Court of Appeals 4th Circuit?

Will be interesting...

[joshcryer]

5. Think they might hear it before Nov?

And if they did, would it be enough time to make sure these voters are counted? Just over three months. Going to be close.

[FBaggins]

13. Unlikely

The ruling is based on the state Constitution - for which they are the highest authority unless an argument can be made that the ruling is somehow trumped by the US Constitution... and I can't see a plausible argument there.

[joshcryer]

4. This will go to the SCOTUS. But probably not before Nov.

McAuliffe is awesome. To think DU used to think he was like the son of Satan.

[ananda]

12. That is indeed the harsh reality.

The Democratic party machine is now what
moderate Republican was.

It has been a very difficult transition for me.

I still suffer because of it.

[nikto]

15. Damn straight, sadly

[FBaggins]

14. On what grounds?

I don't see any path for appeal here. It's a state issue and the ruling by the state SC is based on the state Constitution.

[GreydeeThos]

6. Talk about right-wing voter suppression

[bucolic_frolic]

11. Fear the party that fears your vote

Trump is coming for your Voter ID!

[malthaussen]

7. Wll, is it within his power as governor to order that?

If so, does not the power to grant imply the power to revoke? Voting rights have typically fallen within the purview of the legislative branch, with the option of the Courts ruling on the constitutionality of any statute devised.

-- Mal

[OldRedneck]

10. Read more here:

http://bluevirginia.us/2016/07/forcing-superb-female-justice-off-state-supreme-court-virginia-gop-celebrates-blocking-people-voting

Governor McAuliffe said, if the Supreme Court invalidated his executive order, he would simply issue 206,000 individual letters, restoring the individuals' voting rights . . . "I'll fire up my auto pen, and I will send out 206,000 letters restoring their rights.”

http://pilotonline.com/news/government/virginia/mcauliffe-lambasts-fear-mongering-by-republicans-over-voting-rights-restoration/article_ce955e2d-487d-5f10-aedd-e0a3ee3e2b5a.html