Desperation : Democrat VA Gov just gave over 200,000 Former Prisoners the right to vote in this presidential election

 Gov. Terry McAuliffe today signed an order restoring the voting rights of 206,000 ex-felons, a sweeping action the governor said was aimed at rectifying Virginia's "long and sad history" of suppressing African-American voting power.



Coming in a presidential election year, a swift backlash ensued as Republicans accused McAuliffe of abusing his executive power to help longtime ally Hillary Clinton win a battleground state by putting more likely Democratic voters on the books.



The governor's order applies to all violent and nonviolent felons who have completed all phases of their sentences and supervised release as of Friday - even those who have not applied for a restoration of rights - a departure from past policies in which governors restored rights on an individual basis.



"We benefit from a more just and accountable government when we put trust in all of our citizens to choose their leaders," McAuliffe said to a cheering crowd from the steps of the state Capitol. "It has taken Virginia many centuries, unfortunately, to learn this lesson. But today, we celebrate its truth."