Access to Voting

Voting is a cornerstone of our democracy, and Senator Favola supports full and convenient access to the ballot. She fervently opposes efforts to create barriers to the ballot box, which disproportionately suppress the votes of people of color, low-income individuals, and voters under the age of 35. As part of the Democratic majority in the legislature, Senator Favola supported successful efforts to make voting easier and more accessible, including: implementing no-excuse absentee ballots, secure ballot drop boxes, extended early voting, and same-day registration; eliminating the photo identification requirement; and making Election Day a state holiday. These historic reforms boosted Virginia from #49 (the second hardest state for voting) to #11 (the eleventh easiest state for voting) in the national Cost of Voting Index.

Senator Favola will continue to fight back against Republican attempts to undo our progress and any attempts to suppress the vote. She strongly supports an amendment to the state constitution that would automatically reinstate voting rights to people convicted of felonies upon their release from incarceration. Senator Favola firmly believes that people who have served their time should have the opportunity to participate in our democracy. Virginia is one of very few states that permanently disenfranchises citizens with felony convictions without intervention from the Governor.