Judicial Watch is suing Governor McAuliffe over his executive order restoring voting rights to 206,000 felons. The lawsuit was filed in Bedford on behalf of several voters. The lawsuit asks for a injunction to stop McAuliffe’s executive order. The lawsuit reads:
Plaintiffs are registered voters in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As a result of Defendants’ unlawful actions, 206,000 felons who, by law, should be ineligible to vote, are being, and will be, registered and permitted to vote. Unless an injunction is granted, Plaintiffs lawful votes will be cancelled out, and their voting power will be diluted, by votes cast by individuals who are not eligible to vote under Virginia’s laws and Constitution.
Judicial Watch argues that the plaintiff’s votes will be negated or diminished by felons who do not have the legal right to vote under Virginia laws and the Virginia Constitution. These felons could have a big impact on the election in November, which is of course the reason the Governor issued his illegal executive order.
The Executive Order provided that all felons who have completed their sentences by April 22, 2016 … shall have their voting rights immediately restored. As a result, these felons are currently able to register to vote by mail; online; through the Virginia Department of Elections, Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, Virginia Public Libraries, and state government offices providing government assistance; and in voter registration drives. Felons who register to vote pursuant to the Executive Order will be eligible to vote in the November 8, 2016 general election in Virginia.
Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said,
Gov. McAuliffe’s felon voting rights ‘executive order’ is outside the law and undermines free and fair elections in Virginia. Voters in Virginia will see their legal votes erased and diminished by the hundreds of thousands of felons unleashed on the election system by Gov. McAuliffe.”
Republican General Assembly leadership has also filed a lawsuit against McAuliffe’s executive order. The Virginia Supreme court has agreed to expedite their suit and will hear it on July 19th.
More here.