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Restoration of Rights

General Information

A restoration of rights restores the rights which are lost in Virginia upon getting a felony conviction. These include the rights to vote, to run for and hold public office, to serve on juries and to serve as a Notary Public. It does not include the right to possess or transport any firearm or to carry a concealed weapon.

There are two different applications / petition processes to follow for restoration of rights, depending on the nature of the felony convictions.  Non-violent felony offenders may use the short form to apply for restoration.  Violent or drug-distribution felony offenders must use the longer application form.

General Requirements

Certain requirements must be met  in order to be eligible for the restoration of your rights, regardless of felony type:

• You must be a resident of Virginia OR have been convicted of a felony in a Virginia court, a court in any other state (including the Disctrict of Columbia), a U.S. District Court, a military court, or or any court of an associated Commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.
• You must have been released from supervised probation for a minimum of three (3) years for a non-violent offense or five (5) years for a violent, drug distribution, or drug manufacturing offense and have no other convictions (felonies or misdemeanors) during that time.
• You must have paid all costs, fines, and/or restitution or any obligations to any other court, including traffic courts.
• You cannot have a conviction for DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) within the past five (5) years immediately preceding your application.

The Secretary of the Commonwealth will conduct a criminal history check on all applicants. This restoration process takes at least six months from the time an application is considered complete. Petitions are reviewed in the order in which they are received AND complete; therefore it is in your best interest to make sure that all required documents are included with your petition from the start.

Again, granting a restoration of rights is solely at the discretion of the Governor; it is not guaranteed. If your petition for restoration of rights is denied, you have no right of appeal – but you may reapply after a two-year period.

Non-violent / Non-drug Felonies

If your felony convictions did not involve charges for violence or for drug manufacturing or distribution, you may fill out the short application for the restoration of your rights.  Drug possession offenders are eligible for this form as long as there were no attendant convictions for distribution, sale, manufacturing or accommodation.

• Short Application for the Restoration of Rights  (pdf, 51k) 

The form above includes instructions on how to fill it out.

Violent / Drug Distribution Felonies

If you have been convicted of a violent offense, a drug manufacturing or distribution offense, or an election law offense (voter fraud), you must use the longer form below to apply for restoration of rights.

• Longer Application for the Restoration of Rights  (pdf, 129k)

The form above includes instructions on how to fill it out.

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Please direct all questions to:

Micah Womack, Restoration of Rights Director
Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth
Post Office Box 2454
Richmond, Virginia 23218-2454
(804) 692-2531

or use our Inquiry Form