Dead felons, dog and now a prisoner: Spanberger voting rights letters draw fresh scrutiny
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger's voting rights restoration effort is facing fresh scrutiny after a state letter indicating that voting rights had been restored was mailed in the name of a woman who remains incarcerated on a felony drug conviction.
Spanberger and Secretary of the Commonwealth Candi Mundon-King have faced criticism over a series of apparent errors, including a letter sent to a dog in Goochland County that died five years ago, another sent to a sheriff’s office in Hampton Roads addressed to "Betty No Last Name" and others mailed to the families of deceased felons.
A Virginia resident who requested anonymity contacted Del. Tom Garrett, R-Buckingham, after receiving a voting rights restoration letter addressed to "Kayla Renae Vaughn," a source told Fox News Digital.
DEM AG'S ELECTION CRUSADE AGAINST TRUMP RUNS INTO EMBARRASSING DEAD-FELON BLUNDER BACK HOME
Fox News Digital obtained images of the letter from the Republican minority caucus in the Virginia House of Delegates. The document appears identical to other restoration letters previously reported, except for the recipient's name.
The resident has no known connection to Vaughn, according to the GOP caucus. Meanwhile, Vaughn remains in prison at the Central Virginia Correctional Unit in Chesterfield County, serving a 40-year sentence with 37 years suspended.
Vaughn was charged in Pearisburg in May 2023 with "Drugs: Manufacture/Distribute; Schedule I or II; Second Offense," according to state correctional records. She was sentenced in January 2025.
Fox News Digital sought comment from Vaughn and prison officials. The prison referred the inquiry to the Virginia Department of Corrections, which acknowledged receiving the request.
Virginia House Minority Leader Terry Kilgore, a Republican, demanded an explanation from Spanberger.
"Restoring the rights of the dead is a failure. Restoring the rights of a dog is an embarrassment," Kilgore said, citing previous cases.
"Restoring the rights of someone still incarcerated on a felony conviction would represent a new level of carelessness. The Governor owes Virginia answers, and soon," Kilgore said.
Garrett did not respond to a request for comment but has previously criticized the administration's handling of voting rights restoration.
The letter signed by Spanberger and Mundon-King stated that the administration had a "completed review of the particulars of [Vaughn’s] case."
Garrett recently pointed to a lawsuit filed by former Virginia House Speaker Bill Howell, R-Stafford, challenging then-Gov. Terry McAuliffe's attempt to restore voting rights to felons through a "big, blanket order." The Virginia Supreme Court ruled that restoration decisions must be made individually, a precedent Garrett argues is relevant to the current controversy.
"[L]ook at the letters coming out of Governor Spanberger’s office. Every one of them claims the administration ‘reviewed the particulars of your individual case," Garrett said, citing the previous letter addressed to "Biscuit Rigsby," a dog in his district.
"They know the rule. They’re just betting no one notices the gap between what the letters say and what actually happened," said Garrett.
Spanberger and Mundon-King did not respond to requests for comment.
Spanberger has publicly described her restoration efforts as benefiting "people who had previously been convicted of a felony, had served their time, returned home, and simply wanted the dignity of being able to fully participate in our democracy," a description that does not apply to Vaughn, who remains incarcerated.
SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER
The voting rights amendment approved by Virginia voters on Nov. 3 also limits automatic restoration to people who have been "once released from incarceration."
The amendment provides for restoration without requiring individual action by the governor. It excludes people "serving a sentence of incarceration for a felony" and those who "do not understand the act of voting."