Virginia Lawmaker Demands Investigation After Dog Reportedly Granted Voting Rights

A Virginia delegate is calling for an investigation into the state's rights restoration process after a constituent received an official certificate granting voting and jury-service rights to his deceased dog.

Del. Tom Garrett, R-Buckingham, stated that a resident of Goochland County discovered that his dog, Biscuit, a beagle-hound mix who died approximately five years ago, was issued a rights-restoration certificate bearing the governor's signature. This incident follows a previous controversy involving a purported convict identified only as "Betty No Last Name" whose rights were restored.

"This is not a question of whether people who have served their sentences deserve a second chance. This is a question of whether the Commonwealth is exercising one of the Governor’s constitutional powers with even the most basic level of review," Garrett said in a statement. "Biscuit was a dog. Biscuit has been dead for five years. Yet an official document bearing the governor’s signature says the executive reviewed the particulars of Biscuit’s criminal case and determined her rights should be restored. Virginians deserve an explanation for how that is possible."

Biscuit's owner, who requested anonymity, confirmed the authenticity of the document to Fox News Digital and stated that the dog was never convicted of a felony and had no interest in voting. The owner also indicated that the dog had no contact with the state that would lead to inclusion on voting rolls.

Governor Abigail Spanberger's office has been working to restore voting rights to formerly incarcerated individuals. In August, the administration announced that the number of individuals who had received restoration of rights since January had reached 100,000. Garrett noted that the Secretary of the Commonwealth was tasked with proactively identifying eligible individuals and restoring their rights.

Garrett has requested an independent audit of the governor's restoration-of-rights actions. He seeks to understand the review process, the databases used, existing safeguards, and how many other erroneous restorations may have been issued. He specifically asked for disclosure of the records that led to "Biscuit Rigsby" being identified as a convicted felon and clarification on what Spanberger's office defines as a "review of the particulars" of a case.

Virginians are set to vote on a ballot measure that would make voting-rights restoration automatic upon release from incarceration. Garrett expressed that the case of Biscuit highlights concerns about the vetting process for such restorations, especially with the upcoming vote. He questioned "At what point does rank incompetence and malfeasance become criminal conduct?"