‘Biscuit’ the dog is latest dead felon to get their voting rights back from Spanberger, confused owner says
A Virginia lawmaker has called for an investigation after a constituent received an official certificate restoring voting and jury-service rights to Biscuit, a dog who died about five years ago. The incident has raised questions about the state’s review process, shortly before voters consider a ballot measure that would make restoration of voting rights for people with felony convictions automatic.
Biscuit’s owner confirmed the certificate was authentic and said the dog had never been convicted of a felony. Governor Abigail Spanberger’s spokesperson said the rights of a dog had not been restored and that the record was associated with a person who had a date of birth and Social Security number, but did not explain the error. The administration has said it restored rights to 100,000 people since Spanberger took office in January; Del. Tom Garrett is seeking details on the databases and safeguards used and whether other mistaken certificates were issued.
In short
- A rights-restoration certificate was issued in the name of a deceased dog.
- Spanberger’s spokesperson said the record was linked to a person.
- Virginia lawmaker Tom Garrett wants an independent investigation.
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The case for
Automatic restoration could reduce administrative barriers for people who have completed felony sentences and make civic participation less dependent on discretionary decisions. The mistaken certificate appears to expose a possible weakness in the current review process, so the episode may support examining whether a clearer, more consistent system can protect both eligible residents’ rights and confidence in the records.
The case against
Restoring rights automatically may leave less room to check individual records carefully, and the Biscuit certificate raises a legitimate question about whether the state’s data and safeguards are reliable enough. Before changing the system, officials could investigate how the error occurred, establish whether others were affected, and show that any new process can prevent mistaken restorations while treating applicants fairly.
Explained simply
Virginia’s governor can restore voting and jury-service rights to people with felony convictions. The process is currently handled by the state, which checks records before issuing certificates confirming that a person’s rights have been restored.
Governor Abigail Spanberger’s administration says it has restored rights to 100,000 people since she took office in January. Del. Tom Garrett, a state lawmaker, is seeking information about the records and safeguards used after a certificate was sent in the name of Biscuit, a dog whose owner says he died about five years ago.
The incident has drawn attention as Virginia voters prepare to consider a measure that would automatically restore voting rights to people with felony convictions. The debate concerns how restoration should be handled and how the state can ensure its records are accurate.