Virginia restores voting rights of 200K felons

The Latest on Gov. Terry McAuliffe's decision to make all former felons in Virginia eligible to vote (all times local):

11:30 a.m.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe is restoring the voting rights of more than 200,000 convicted felons in the state.

The sweeping action announced by the Democratic governor Friday will allow former felons who have completed their sentences to register to vote in Virginia this year.

McAuliffe has made the restoration of rights of former convicts a priority of his administration.

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4:15 a.m.

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe's office says the governor plans to make a major announcement on his efforts at restoring certain civil rights of former felons.

The governor has scheduled an 11 a.m. news conference Friday at the Capitol to make the announcement.

McAuliffe spokesman Brian Coy said the governor had restored the rights of 18,000 Virginians, more than combined total of his seven predecessors, and Friday's announcement would mark another major milestone.

The Democratic governor has made restoring rights — including the right to vote, the right to hold public office, and the right to serve on a jury — a top priority.