Yes, under the Virginia state constitution people who have been convicted of a felony lose the right to vote. See, VA Constitution, Article II, § 1.

Yes! Virginia’s constitution gives the Governor power to restore voting rights. Article II, § 1.

The Governor of Virginia sets the process for restoring voting rights. Governor Youngkin’s administration has not yet released information about what the current process entails.

Yes, as long as you’ve completed your sentence on each of the felonies.

The Governor’s office created a database that allows people to check whether their voting rights have been restored. You can search the database by entering your name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security Number. The database can be found here.

This means that the Governor has not yet restored your voting rights.

You can find the application here on the Governor’s rights restoration website. This online application requires that you enter your full Social Security Number. RMV can send you a paper form if you are more comfortable.

For more information, check out RMV’s page on what to do if your status is “Record Not Found.“

Yes. Please call RMV at 844-932-8683 and we can help!

The Governor’s office has expressed that it is operating on a case-by-case basis, but has not communicated how long, on average, wait times will be. You can periodically check the Governor’s database to see if any changes have occurred.

If you have been waiting four weeks or more, call RMV at 844-932-8683. We can help figure out why it’s taking so long.

This means the Governor believes you are not eligible to have your rights restored. In the past, the most common reason is that the Governor has determined that you have not completed your sentence.

If you believe this is incorrect, please contact us at (844) 932-8683.

This means the Governor has your information and is aware that you may be eligible and is working on restoring your rights. The Governor is in the process of confirming you have completed your sentence. You should look through the information listed on the Governor’s lookup tool to make sure it is correct. Please contact us at (844) 932-8683 if the Governor has incorrect information about you in the database.

Please contact us at (844) 932-8683 if your status is listed as “Pending” for longer than 2-3 weeks and we can help you figure out why.

Congratulations! If your status is “Granted,” that means the governor has restored your voting rights. You should receive a personalized restoration order in the mail without about 3-4 weeks after the date your rights were restored. Please contact us at (844) 932-8683 if you do not receive your official grant order in the mail within that time period.

Governor Youngkin’s administration has yet to announce a policy change on fines or fees affecting the restoration of rights, beyond adding questions on the Restoration Of Rights Form related to the status of fines, fees, and restitution. Under past administrations, you could get your right to vote back even if you still owed fines or fees from your conviction. We will provide callers with the very latest information on how fines or fees affect the restoration of your rights as it is made available.

Not yet! Although your voting rights are restored, you still must register to vote. You’ll be able to vote in the next election as soon as you register.

Click here to learn more about voting in Virginia.

Once the governor has restored your civil rights, you can now:

(1) Vote!

(2) To serve on a Jury

(3) To Run for Office

(4) To become a Notary Public

Restoring your civil rights does not include the right to own a firearm. For more information on regaining your gun rights, check the State Police website.

No. In order to restore your gun rights you must petition the Circuit court in the jurisdiction where you live for a permit to possess, ship, or transport a firearm. For more information, visit the State Police website.

Yes. Your civil rights will be lost again if you commit a felony after you have had your rights restored. You will not be eligible to vote again in Virginia until you have completed your new sentence.

No, the Governor’s order does not remove convictions from your criminal record or excuse you from any court fees, fines or restitution owed. The order only restores your civil rights.

Yes. Once your civil rights have been restored, it is possible to have a notation added to your Virginia Criminal Record showing that your civil rights have been restored.  Call Revive My Vote at 844-932-8683 to learn more about this process.

Our Democracy has far too many missing voices. The government is supposed to work for you, the voter.

Government cannot work effectively unless you vote.

Every single vote counts. An election can be decided by just a single vote. Don’t believe it? Here are a few times in U.S. history where just a few votes shaped the course of history:

1. In 2000 the Presidential election was decided by just 537 votes in Florida.
2. Richard Nixon, not John F. Kennedy, would have become President of the U.S. in 1960 if one person from each voting place had voted differently.

The same is true in Virginia. A Virginia election has been decided by a small margin three times in the last fifteen years:

1. In 2013 Mark Herring defeated Mark Obenshain for Virginia Attorney General after a recount. Herring won by just 907 votes.
2. In 2005 Bob McDonnell defeated Creigh Deeds for Virginia Attorney General after a recount. McDonnell won by only 323 votes.
3. In June 2017, the Republican primary was decided by less than 4,000 votes.

Every vote matters.

Simply put, voting gives you power. Voting gives you the power to tell the government what you want. Voting gives you the power to make a change or voice your support for the way this state and this country is run. Voting even gives you the power to help shape the world. Above all else, voting gives you the power to positively affect your future.