Copyright Norfolk Virginian-Pilot
Right to vote Virginia’s citizens who have committed felonies lose the right to vote permanently unless that right is restored by our governor. This travesty comes from Virginia’s 1902 state constitutional convention and is a legacy of Jim Crow. The American Civil Liberties Union estimates that 9.8% of Black, voting-age Virginians are currently disenfranchised under this system. Criteria for restoration has varied from one administration to another, which is also unfair. Citizens convicted of felonies should have their voting rights restored as soon as they’re released from incarceration. A proposed constitutional amendment, passed earlier this year by the General Assembly, would create an automatic restoration process that is independent of the governor. If passed again in 2026, a referendum will be placed on that November’s ballot for voters to decide upon a constitutional amendment. No matter who wins this November, let’s work together in a bipartisan fashion to correct this historic wrong. Mary Lou Burke, Chesapeake Distractions It is hard to believe that so many people in Virginia are making transgender participation in high school sports an issue. The Virginia High School League has only received 31 requests, statewide, for transgender athletes to play on teams aligning with their identity from October 2020 to December 2024. This is out of about 177,000 high school athletes in Virginia. That percentage wise is 0.017514124, or less than 2/100ths of 1% of student athletes are transgender. Is this really an issue? I wonder how many millions of dollars in advertising was spent on trying to block those 31 transgender athletes. Also, the Virginia High School League has banned transgender students from facilities with their at birth gender teammates. Again, is this really an issue that should dominate voting concerning statewide and executive offices? I think it is a distraction from the real issues that affect us on a daily basis. Jeff Staples, Chesapeake No politics Re “Chesapeake sheriff” (Your Views, Oct. 15): In this age of hyper-partisan politics, the last thing that we need is extreme-right policies in the Chesapeake sheriff’s office. I could not agree more with the letter supporting incumbent Sheriff Dave Rosado. It is clear that Wallace Chadwick will make the office extremely political. So, do the right thing, keep politics out of the sheriff’s office, write in Rosado and check the box for the good of Chesapeake. Dr. Adam Billet, Chesapeake Jessica Anderson In late 2022, my daughter in Chicago asked me to contact a woman who was interested in running for elected office in Virginia who had not run for office before. They met online. Being a a baby boomer, I reacted as most my age might. “Great, a TikTok personality.” To my surprise, I met Jessica Anderson who was knowledgeable about vote counts, policy issues in Virginia and the 71st District’s needs. Anderson was, in 2023, a neophyte running for elected office because of her empathy for the working people of the 71st District. Anderson’s values of family and community drive her positions in elected office. Her energy from being a runner allowed her to knock on thousands of doors in the 71st District that hadn’t seen a candidate in many years. Since 2023, Anderson has prepared herself by attending UVA’s Sorenson School for Public Policy to gain a greater understanding of the commonwealth. She has built a coalition of young voters, older voters, running clubs, PTA moms and sport dads. The coalition grew in two years because Anderson engages with voters at their doors, online and throughout the community. The attack by Anderson’s opponent shows her as a career politician for whom meeting the voters is an inconvenience. Mary Minor, former WJCC School Board member, Williamsburg Election letters We will accept letters related to the election through 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 29, and publish them, space permitting, through Friday, Oct. 31.
