The felon vote

Virginia Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe has unilaterally and possibly unconstitutionally declared that 200,000 convicted felons in his state may vote this fall and in subsequent elections.

McAuliffe’s executive order also allows felons, including rapists and murderers, to run for public office and serve on juries. I can just visualize the campaign slogan: “Vote for me. I’ve already done time.”

Republicans are outraged. Virginia House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell said, “The singular purpose of Terry McAuliffe’s governorship is to elect Hillary Clinton president of the United States. This office has always been a stepping stone to a job in Hillary Clinton’s Cabinet.” It’s an accusation McAuliffe vehemently denies.

Clinton tweeted, “Proud of my friend @GovernorVA for continuing to break down barriers to voting.—H.”

After many years as a Republican, or red state, Virginia more recently has become a swing state and important to Democrats for winning the presidency. Just as former slaves in Virginia and elsewhere were loyal to Republicans for many years after Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, most of these felons likely will become reliable Democratic voters, along with the flood tide of aliens illegally crossing our southern border who at some point are bound to be given the right to vote for Democrats who are giving them stuff.

McAuliffe is more loyal to the Clintons than a family pet. He has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for the Clintons and the Democratic National Committee. For a good account of McAuliffe’s fundraising antics and other financial dealings, visit the website counterpunch.org.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, “In 38 states and the District of Columbia, most ex-felons automatically gain the right to vote upon the completion of their sentence.” In liberal Maine and Vermont, convicted felons may cast their ballots while in prison and are never disenfranchised. Most states require ex-convicts to apply to have their voting rights restored. Many factors go into the decision, including the nature of the crime. It is not always automatic.

In his book The Virginia Constitution, John J. Dinan writes, “Virginia’s felon disenfranchisement provision … has been challenged in several cases, but sustained in each instance.” In 1982, Virginia voters rejected a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would have allowed convicted felons to vote. As recently as 2004, notes Dinan, a constitutional amendment to automatically restore felons’ voting rights after the completion of their sentences “was considered by the General Assembly, but failed to achieve a majority in either the House or Senate.”

Societies going back to Greek and Roman times have disenfranchised convicted criminals, because they regarded such actions as part of their punishment.

In an interview following McAuliffe’s announcement, Speaker Howell suggested legal action might be taken. There isn’t much time between now and November, and the Republican majority legislature is not even in session. Legal action would be difficult.

If Hillary Clinton wins the presidency and the votes of Virginia felons prove decisive, cheating and voter cynicism will plunge to new depths. Most people probably think politics can’t get any dirtier. McAuliffe’s action shows they are wrong.

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Listen to Cal Thomas’ commentary on The World and Everything in It.