The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Feb. 26, 2025
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)
In the coming weeks, Virginia GOP Governor Glenn Youngkin considers multiple pro-voter bills sent to his desk by a Democratic-majority legislature. A state constitutional amendment also moves to the November ballot which restores voting rights to returning citizens after felony convictions.
Almost a dozen pro-voter bills have advanced in January and February, most recently protecting voters from premature purges. Last August, Younkin ordered voter registration purges within 90 days of the election, upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court just two weeks before the election.
In response, the Virginia legislature passed House bills 2002 and 2276, prohibiting the purging of a voter using unverified external data as justification, and establishing specific criteria for removal. SB 813 specifically prohibits voter list purges within 90 days of the election.
After blocking GOP attempts to shorten early voting in primaries from 45 days to 14 days, the legislature passed SB 760, extending deadlines for returning mail-in ballots to three days after election day and allowing curing of deficient ballots, and passed SB 991, giving more time to voters to register before election day.
In 2023, Governor Youngkin reversed policies of recent governors, and restores voting rights to citizens who’ve completed felony sentences only on a case-by-case basis. House Resolution 2, now passed in both houses, would automatically restore those rights, and will appear on the November 2025 ballot.
Find links to the bills at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
American Democracy Minute – U.S. Supreme Court Allows Virginia to Purge of Alleged Non Citizen Voters Only Days Before the Election, Ignoring Established Federal Law. Eligible Voters Were on the List, Too.
Virginia Mercury – Senate moves to strengthen protections against voter roll purges
Virginia Mercury – Historic push for constitutional protections in Virginia gains momentum
Virginia Legislature – HB 2002, HB 2276, SB 813, SB 760, SB 991, HR 2
Groups Taking Action:
ACLU Virginia, Virginia Election Protection, UpVote VA,
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
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