Dead felon voting controversy grows as ‘Betty No Last Name’ surfaces in Spanberger’s rights restoration push
An attorney in Virginia says he obtained a voting-rights restoration citation addressed to “Betty No Last Name”, adding to concerns about Governor Abigail Spanberger’s process for restoring rights to people with felony convictions. The document has drawn criticism ahead of a 3 November ballot measure that would make restoration automatic upon release from prison.
The citation says Betty’s rights to vote, serve on juries and seek public office were restored, and bears the signatures of Spanberger and Secretary of the Commonwealth Candi Mundon-King. Attorney Tim Anderson obtained it through a public-records request; a Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office official confirmed it was authentic. Anderson and former attorney general Jason Miyares questioned whether cases were individually reviewed, while some lawmakers have called for an independent audit. The article reports that more than 66,000 Virginians have had their rights restored, but does not include a response from Spanberger’s administration.
In short
- A Virginia restoration citation was addressed to “Betty No Last Name”.
- More than 66,000 people reportedly had their rights restored.
- Lawmakers are calling for an audit before a ballot measure.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of automatic restoration may argue that people who have completed prison sentences should regain civic rights without delays or inconsistent case-by-case decisions. A standard process could reduce administrative burdens and help people rejoin their communities, while an apparent error in one citation would be a reason to improve safeguards rather than reject restoration altogether.
The case against
Critics may argue that restoring rights is a consequential decision and that the “Betty No Last Name” citation raises legitimate questions about identity checks, individual review and the reliability of the process. An independent audit could establish whether this was an isolated clerical mistake or evidence of wider shortcomings, helping protect public confidence before restoration becomes automatic.
Explained simply
In Virginia, people convicted of felonies can lose rights including voting, serving on juries and holding public office. The governor can restore those rights, and Abigail Spanberger’s administration has restored them for tens of thousands of people.
The controversy concerns how those decisions are made and checked. An attorney says he received an official restoration citation for “Betty No Last Name”; the document carries the governor’s and Secretary of the Commonwealth Candi Mundon-King’s signatures, and a sheriff’s office official confirmed it was authentic.
Virginia voters are due to consider a ballot measure on 3 November that would restore voting rights automatically when people leave prison. The questions about the current process have prompted calls for an independent audit, making the issue relevant to both the state’s election rules and oversight of government decisions.