Terry McAuliffe in 2017 VA Governor's race

On Crime: Grant 200,000 convicted felons the right to vote

The move expands voting rights to every Virginia felon who has completed their sentences and any supervised release, parole, or probation. It will also allow ex-offenders to run for public office, to serve on a jury, and to become a notary public.

The denial of rights has a particularly bitter history in Virginia, which is seen as a crucial swing state, the governor says: "Too often in both our distant and recent history, politicians have used their authority to restrict people's ability to participate in our democracy," he said. "Today we are reversing that disturbing trend." In Virginia, 1 in 5 African-Americans is disenfranchised, according to the Sentencing Project.

On Government Reform: Grant voting rights to 200,000 released convicted felons

The move, part of an executive order, expands voting rights to every Virginia felon who has completed their sentences and any parole or probation. It will also allow ex-offenders to run for public office, to serve on a jury, and to become a notary public.

The denial of rights has a particularly bitter history in Virginia, the governor says. "Too often in both our distant and recent history, politicians have used their authority to restrict people's ability to participate in our democracy," he said in a statement. "Today we are reversing that disturbing trend and restoring the rights of more than 200,000 of our fellow Virginians, who work, raise families and pay taxes in every corner of our Commonwealth."