Associated Press - November 19, 2009 12:35 PM ET
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Civil rights organizations are asking Gov. Tim Kaine to sign an executive order restoring the rights of nearly 300,000 felons before he leaves office in January.
Virginia and Kentucky are the only states that permanently strip felons of their civil rights, such as voting, serving on juries or holding public office. Only Virginia's governor can restore rights.
Kaine has restored more than 4,000 felons' rights. But groups like the Virginia Organizing Project are worried they will lose ground with the new Republican administration.
They started a major push this week to convince Kaine to act.
Kaine said he would consider an executive order, but he felt the process was streamlined enough to make rights restoration attainable for those who wanted it.
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