Kaine says he'd consider voting rights for felons

WASHINGTON - Should convicted felons be able to vote in Virginia once they are released from prison?

Currently, only the governor can restore voting rights for felons in Virginia. Virginia is one of the few states that doesn't have a more automatic procedure for felon voting laws.

Appearing on WTOP's Ask the Governor program on Tuesday, Va. Gov. Tim Kaine says he would support some changes.

"When somebody wants to participate, I think we ought to have procedures that enable them to once they've shown that can do fine in civil society," Kaine says.

However, Kaine indicated the changes would only apply to non-violent felons.

"It would have to be a constitutional amendment that would give the legislature the power to set up that kind of format and I think it should be in most instances, more automatic," Kaine says.

Kaine also discussed the Dulles rail project and says that if the Virginia General Assembly's special session is unable to produce the state's portion of the $5 billion project, he will find another way.

"I've got a few ideas in my head. But I don't want to say. I don't want to acknowledge the 'if,'" Kaine says. "I don't give up."

Kaine says he's willing to sign any bill the General Assembly proposes if it meets the main goal: regional funding for Northern Virginia and millions for statewide maintenance.

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