You are eligible to apply for the removal of your political disabilities if you completed your sentence more than 5 years ago and if all court costs and restitution have been satisfied. A felony conviction makes you ineligible to vote in Virginia, no matter where you were convicted, and you must have your rights restored before you will be permitted to vote. The Governor of Virginia cannot grant you a pardon on behalf of the federal government or that of another state, but he can remove your political disabilities in Virginia and therefore restore your Virginia voting rights. If you wish to seek a full pardon for a conviction from another state, you should contact the Governor's office of that state for information on their procedures. If you move to another state, your right to vote will be controlled by the laws of that state.
Registration is available year round in Virginia.
However, in order to participate in an election, your registration application generally must be received at least 29 days before that election. This pamphlet is provided for informational purposes only, as an aid to further inquiry. The laws in many states are revised frequently, and may have changed since this pamphlet was issued. It is your responsibility to determine whether you are lawfully eligible to vote, and criminal penalties can result from voting when ineligible or making false statements on a registration form.