Norment proposes path to voting rights for nonviolent felons; McAuliffe calls it 'step backward'

Virginia Senate Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment Jr. announced Thursday that he’ll introduce a constitutional amendment to automatically restore voting rights for some nonviolent felons, create new barriers for others, and strip future governors of the power to restore political rights.

The amendment — the first major proposal from Republicans who have fought to block Gov. Terry McAuliffe from restoring voting rights to more than 200,000 felons regardless of their crimes — would permanently bar violent felons from voting. Those convicted of violent crimes have long been able to apply to regain their rights after a waiting period, but Norment’s proposal would eliminate that process entirely.

Though Norment, R-James City, and House Speaker William J. Howell, R-Stafford, are still waging a legal battle to throw out thousands of felons’ voter registrations ahead of the presidential election, they have largely avoided offering their own suggestions for a long-term fix.

The plan announced Thursday didn’t appear to move the two sides toward a compromise. McAuliffe and other Democrats rejected Norment’s proposal in strong terms, arguing that it would create an even stricter process.

Read more: http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/article_12882295-f503-5b95-bef3-e2fd9bc1cbc9.html