Governor of Virginia Terry McAuliffe has signed a new policy into action that will restore voting rights to over 200,000 former inmates who have completed parole. Previously VA inmates permanently lost the right to vote upon conviction, but the governor has now made a huge development in the state’s progress by giving back these rights to disenfranchised felons.

The new policy also includes restoring the rights to run for office, become a notary public, or perform jury duty to the disenfranchised Virginians. This move helps shed the history of partisan controls and racial biases at the state level in the decision making of criminal justice systems, and Governor McAuliffe is proud of the policy.