Applaud the Judge for Restoring Voting Rights in Virginia

A federal judge just delivered a landmark victory for democracy in Virginia.

This week, U.S. District Court Judge John Gibney ruled that Virginia’s lifetime voting ban for people with certain felony convictions violates federal law — and that the Commonwealth has been unlawfully stripping voting rights from hundreds of thousands of Virginians for generations.

This decision is a powerful step toward justice, especially for Black Virginians who have long been disproportionately targeted and disenfranchised by these unfair policies. As the court made clear, Congress never intended for states like Virginia to use modern felony laws as a backdoor way to silence voters and weaken the political power of communities of color.

For too long, Virginia’s system has treated the right to vote like a privilege that politicians can grant or deny. But voting is a fundamental right — and Judge Gibney’s ruling brings Virginia closer to a democracy where every voice counts.
This is what accountability looks like: honoring the rule of law, confronting the legacy of disenfranchisement, and restoring the power of the people.

Add your name to applaud Judge Gibney for standing up for voting rights, defending democracy, and helping restore the voices of hundreds of thousands of Virginians.