Virginia high court hears Republican voting-rights lawsuit
Source: Reuters
Politics | Tue Jul 19, 2016 11:58am EDT
Virginia high court hears Republican voting-rights lawsuit
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA | BY GARY ROBERTSON
In a case that could have an impact on the November presidential election, the Virginia Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday over a Republican lawsuit challenging the blanket restoration of voting rights for 206,000 felons by Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe.
If upheld, McAuliffe's order could help tip Virginia, a swing state where the vote is traditionally close in presidential elections, in favor of presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
Lawyers for leaders in the Republican-controlled state legislature argued that McAuliffe exceeded his authority by restoring voting rights en masse, rather than on a case-by-case basis.
"Never in Virginia's 240-year history has a governor exercised clemency power en masse," Charles Cooper, an attorney for the plaintiffs, told the court.
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http://www.reuters.com/article/us-virginia-felons-idUSKCN0ZZ0Z5