December 5, 2011
We are pleased to announce the release of our updated “Virginia Civil Rights Restoration Guide.” The most current guide follows a version released in 2008 designed to help people convicted of felonies restore their civil rights. Virginia is one of only four states in the country whose laws forever strip individuals’ civil rights upon a felony conviction, including their right to vote, unless individually restored by the Governor.
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December 3, 2011
Advancement Project is publishing an updated version of its “Virginia Civil Rights Restoration Guide" to assist disenfranchised people, their families and friends, community leaders, and volunteers with navigating the restoration process. It is the first of a series of community tools offered by Advancement Project to support community members’ efforts to restore their civil rights. As a supplement to the guide, Advancement Project will also offer training for community groups on how to undergo the process starting in January 2012.
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March 16, 2011
By Andrew J. Williams
“This plan will eliminate the darkey as a political factor in this State in less than 5 years, so that in no single county . . . will there be the least concern felt for the complete supremacy of the white race in the affairs of government.” Delegate Carter Glass’s comments to the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1902 were an explicit reference to Virginia lawmakers’ scheme to systematically eradicate Blacks from the state’s electorate.
February 10, 2011
Advancement Project, in partnership with Virginia New Majority and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), helped secure a big victory for immigrant rights in Herndon, Virginia.
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October 25, 2010
Washington, DC—Today, Advancement Project and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) requested a meeting with the Herndon Town Council to discuss a recently-revised ordinance which they say threatens the constitutional rights of day laborers. In a joint letter to the council, the groups questioned the legality of Chapter 66, Article IV of the Herndon Town Code which prohibits “street distributions, solicitations, or sales,” making it unlawful for day laborers to stand on public roadways to communicate to potential employers that they are looking for work.
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September 20, 2010
When the General Assembly next convenes in early 2011, Virginia legislators must enact four sensible reforms promoting equality and justice in voting. First, Virginia must institute early or no-excuse in-person absentee voting, which expands the opportunity to vote in a cost-effective manner. Second, the state must establish uniform, mandatory, minimum standards (in proportion to population) to ensure that all local election officials provide an appropriate number of voting machines, poll workers, and equipment in all polling places.
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February 17, 2010
February 17, 2010
VIRGINIA ELECTION OFFICIALS SUED FOR UNLAWFULLY DENYING ACCESS TO VOTER FILES
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February 17, 2010
Advancement Project and Project Vote, along with pro bono cooperating attorneys from the law firm of Ropes & Gray LLP, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Norfolk against Elisa Long, general registrar of Norfolk and Nancy Rodrigues, secretary of the State Board of Elections, for denying access to certain voter registration records.
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February 16, 2010
Today, leading voter protection groups Advancement Project and Project Vote, along with pro bono cooperating attorneys from the law firm of Ropes & Gray LLP, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Norfolk against Elisa Long, general registrar of Norfolk and Nancy Rodrigues, secretary of the State Board of Elections, for denying access to certain voter registration records.
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January 14, 2010
Jan. 15, 2010 marks the 81st anniversary of the birth of one of America’s greatest citizens, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It also marks the last full day of the term of another great American, Governor Tim Kaine. The coincidence of these events has an ironic ring of hopefulness, as the nation awaits a signal from Governor Tim Kaine as to whether he will walk down the path of justice when he leaves office. Governor Kaine has the plenary power to issue an executive order on or before Jan.
