Democrat Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed an executive order Friday restoring voting rights to 200,000 felons.
The law will allow about 200,000 felons who are no longer in prison, on probation or parole, to vote, the Washington Post reports. The decision could face legal challenges, though McAuliffe expressed confidence in his legal authority to issue the order.
“VA cannot achieve its full potential until all men and women are eligible for this fundamental right,” McAuliffe said on Twitter, adding that, “Virginia will no longer build walls and barriers to the ballot box – we will break them down.”