Voting Rights Developments: Virginia Felony Disenfranchisement Ruling and Minnesota Voter Guidance

Two distinct voting rights matters were reported in separate states. In Virginia, a federal judge on Aug. 19, 2026, reaffirmed a prior order stating that only felonies recognized under 1870-era Virginia law can be used to remove a person's voting rights, according to VPM. The ruling stems from a lawsuit involving lead plaintiff Tati Abu King that had previously partially overturned the state's felony voter disenfranchisement policy. Separately, in Minnesota, Attorney General Keith Ellison issued updated know-your-rights voting guidance on Sept. 1, 2026, coinciding with the first day of voting for that state's 2026 general election. The Virginia case centers on a judicial finding that the state has continued to apply broader disenfranchisement standards than permitted under the earlier court order, which restricted felony-based voting rights removal to a narrower historical category of offenses. The Minnesota guidance, issued by the Attorney General's office, addresses procedures and protections for early in-person voting, mail voting, and Election Day voting, with specific emphasis on safeguards against voter intimidation and election misinformation. Both matters remain part of ongoing processes: the Virginia ruling indicates continued judicial oversight of the state's compliance with the felony voting rights order, though further enforcement actions or state responses were not detailed in available reporting. In Minnesota, the guidance was issued as voting began, with no additional details provided on subsequent developments. These two events are unrelated in subject matter and jurisdiction, and no shared facts, sources, or outcomes connect them beyond both concerning voter rights issues in 2026.