Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced on Tuesday that going forward any Virginian convicted of a felony will automatically have their civil rights restored upon release from incarceration. Northam’s announcement restored the right to vote, serve on a jury, run for office, and become a notary public. Effective immediately, these rights will be restored upon completion of any sentence of incarceration, even if the individual remains on community supervision or has outstanding court fees and fines.

Virginia’s Constitution states that “no person who has been convicted of a felony shall be registered to vote…unless his civil rights have been restored by the Governor.” Only two other states—Iowa and Kentucky—have constitutions that permanently disenfranchise citizens with past felony convictions. In January, Virginia lawmakers passed a proposed constitutional amendment that would automatically restore voting rights to felons upon completion of their sentence of imprisonment. To go into effect, the proposed amendment will need to be passed again in 2022 and then pass a statewide ballot referendum.

Tuesday’s announcement gives effect to the proposed change to Virginia’s Constitution, restoring the voting rights of 69,000 Virginians. Northam said, “Too many of our laws were written during a time of open racism and discrimination, and they still bear the traces of inequity. We are a Commonwealth that believes in moving forward, not being tied down by the mistakes of our past.”