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Delegate Jay Jones (D) Proposes Voter Protection & Election Integrity Unit for Office of Attorney General
Delegate Jay Jones today released a proposal that would establish a Voter Protection and Election Integrity Unit on behalf of the Attorney General’s Office. The Unit will proactively work to defend Virginians’ right to vote, investigate instances of disenfranchisement, and educate at-risk communities of their rights to the ballot box. Delegate Jonesreleased the following statement around the proposal:
“At long last, Virginia is making historic progress toward ensuring that the ability of our citizens to fulfill their civic duty and cast a ballot for the values and ideals of their choice becomes a true right to vote. Yet this progress will mean little if we don’t ensure that this ability is protected by our state government.
“Every single eligible Virginian should be able to register to vote and cast their ballot in each election without undue roadblocks, harassment, pressure or obstruction. That is why, as Attorney General, I will be proud to create Virginia’s very first dedicated Voter Protection and Election Integrity Unit within my new Civil Rights Division, staffed with experienced experts well versed in defending the right to vote and protecting the sanctity of our elections.
“The right to vote should be one of our most sacred civic ideals. But too often in our history, that right has only been treated as sacred for some. This new Voter Protection and Election Integrity Unit will be an important step on the path toward making that right sacred for all, while empowering all of our communities to make their voice heard in our democratic process.”
DELEGATE DAVE LAROCK ENDORSES WINSOME SEARS (R) FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Delegate Dave LaRock announced his endorsement of Winsome Sears in her candidacy to serve as the next Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. LaRock represents the 33rd District of the Virginia House of Delegates.https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/nk1EYrGFc_E?rel=0&autoplay=0&showinfo=0
NORFOLK MAYOR KENNETH COOPER ALEXANDER ENDORSES ANDRIA MCCLELLAN FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Norfolk Councilmember and candidate for Virginia Lieutenant Governor Andria McClellan announced the endorsement from Mayor Kenneth Cooper Alexander, Ph.D., who previously served for 14 years in the Virginia General Assembly representing the 5th district in the Senate of Virginia and the 89th district in the House of Delegates, where he also served as Chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus.
“I have worked with Andria for years and I am pleased to endorse her for the role of Lieutenant Governor,” said Mayor Alexander. “Andria has been a leader throughout Norfolk, the Hampton Roads region and the Commonwealth on critical issues facing our community including expanding access to broadband, supporting small businesses and mitigating climate change and flooding. She is well known for her tenacity, work ethic, and solutions oriented approach to leadership. I know that she will never stop fighting for Virginians and ensuring an inclusive Virginia where everyone has access to opportunity and a safe, bright and prosperous future.”
Governor Northam Restores Civil Rights to Over 69,000 Virginians, Reforms Restoration of Rights Process
Governor Ralph Northam restored the civil rights of more than 69,000 Virginians on Tuesday using new eligibility criteria that mirror a proposed change to the Constitution of Virginia that would automatically restore voting rights to individuals upon completion of their sentence of incarceration.
Governor Northam announced that going forward, any Virginian released from incarceration will qualify to have their rights restored, even if they remain on community supervision. This change builds on a number of bipartisan reforms that have been made to the restoration of rights process over the last decade, including streamlining the application and eliminating the waiting period and the prerequisite that court costs and fees be paid prior to having one’s rights restored. With today’s announcement, Governor 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,” said Governor Northam. “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.”
“While the Virginia NAACP is encouraged that the governor has restored the rights of over 69,000 Virginians, many of whom are Black and Brown, we remain steadfast in our campaign to secure and protect voting rights for all,” said Virginia State Conference NAACP President Robert N. Barnette, Jr.
Chase attacks McClellan over leadership in Black caucus – Associated Press
by Sarah Rankin
Amanda Chase, a Republican running for Virginia governor as a self-described “Trump in heels,” said at a campaign event that a fellow state senator seeking the Democratic nod in the race would not “be a governor that supports everyone” because of her leadership in the legislative Black caucus.
The remarks about state Sen. Jennifer McClellan came during a campaign event, which Chase said took place Monday night. A video clip was circulated online by Democratic super PAC American Bridge 21st Century.
Virginia gubernatorial candidate Cox hits Northam, McAuliffe amid parole board whistleblower suit – Fox News
Virginia gubernatorial candidate Kirk Cox, a Republican, is going after Gov. Ralph Northam and former governor and current gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe, as Northam’s administration and a former McAuliffe appointee face accusations of wrongdoing over the state parole board.
“Members of Northam and McAuliffe’s Parole Board violated the law, and then government entities up the chain of command appear to have attempted to cover up the true depth of the violations here, from the Inspector General to the Attorney General to Northam’s Chief of Staff. With each development, we learn more about the poor leadership and lack of transparency,” Cox told Fox News.
Joint Statement from Virginia Congresswomen Ahead of House Vote to Remove ERA Ratification Deadline
U.S. Representatives Elaine Luria (D-VA-02), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07), and Jennifer Wexton (D-VA-10) today released the following statement ahead of the U.S. House of Representatives voting to remove the ratification deadline on the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the U.S. Constitution.
“Last year, we watched Virginia make history by becoming the 38th state in the union to ratify the ERA, hitting the federal threshold for ratification. This decades-long push was led by mothers, daughters, sisters, and granddaughters in the Commonwealth, and it is thanks to their efforts that Virginia holds a momentous chapter in the story of this movement.
“However, the outdated ratification deadline on the ERA still presents a major barrier to guaranteeing that all Americans — no matter their sex — are protected under our Constitution. Congress has the power to change this arbitrary expiration date, and today, we will vote on legislation that takes the long overdue step of repealing the deadline on ratification. There should be no deadline on equality.
“For more than 100 years, this fight to achieve equal protections under the law has been galvanized by the hard work and relentless commitment of women and men who never stopped believing in the promise of equality. Our three votes on this legislation are dedicated to the Virginians who organized, marched, and advocated for progress. We have faith that they will soon see ratification, and we — the three women of Virginia’s congressional delegation — are proud to take another step towards making the ERA the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.”
The three Virginia Congresswomen are all original cosponsors of the resolution, H.J. Res. 17, which would remove the deadline for the ratification of the ERA.
More News:
- Gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin visits Danville
- Four major community vaccination clinics launch across Virginia
- As local government meetings moved online, public participation jumped
- Did Virginia lawmakers accidentally vote to legalize skill games for another year?
- College Admission Season Is Crazier Than Ever
- I like Ike, but Mike’s OK; ranked-choice voting gets a look
