(Via Twitter)

With the stroke of a pen (and much complaining from the Virginia GOP), Governor Terry McAuliffe restored voting rights to 206,000 former felons last month. A government analysis shows that non-violent offenders account for 80 percent of that total, and that African Americans are disproportionately represented.

“Too often in both our distant and recent history, politicians have used their authority to restrict peoples’ ability to participate in our democracy. Today we are reversing that disturbing trend,” McAuliffe said at the time. And given that Virginia is a swing state, the decision has the potential to decide the November presidential election.

Looking at databases from the Virginia Department of Corrections and the Compensation Board that account for more about three quarters of the population, the governor’s office did a statistical analysis of who exactly had their rights restored by the executive order (which extended a previous policy).

More than three quarters are men. Just 20 percent were violent offenders. Around 65,000 people finished serving their time 10 years ago—22,000 of whom passed the 20 year mark. And although African Americans make up less than 20 percent of the Virginia population, they account for 45.9 percent of the population whose voting rights were restored.

(Courtesy of the Office of the Governor)

(Courtesy of the Office of the Governor)

(Courtesy of the Office of the Governor)