Virginia Restores Voting Rights to Deceased Dog
The governor issued an official notice restoring voting and jury rights to a pet that passed away five years ago.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Elections
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The Commonwealth of Virginia inadvertently restored voting and jury service rights to a deceased dog named Biscuit. The error occurred during an automated rights restoration process intended for former felons.
Why it matters
The administrative error highlights concerns regarding the accuracy of state records used to fast-track rights restoration. Delegate Tom Garrett has formally requested a state investigation into the review process.
The administration previously prioritized the automatic restoration of rights to 66,000 former felons in August 2026. The state now faces scrutiny over the accuracy of these automated records.
The players
Abigail Spanberger
She serves as the Governor of Virginia and is responsible for the state administration issuing the rights restoration notices.
Tom Garrett
He is a Delegate who represents the Buckingham district and has called for a formal investigation into the process.
The details
Official documents bearing the state seal and Governor Abigail Spanberger's signature were issued to the deceased pet and a resident identified as 'Betty No Last Name.' Officials attributed the flawed mailings to an automated process using autopen signatures.
Timeline
The dog Biscuit died in 2021.
Governor Spanberger prioritized rights restoration for 66,000 felons in August 2026.
Virginia voters will decide on automatic rights restoration policies on November 3, 2026.
Political Context
Opposition members point to this clerical failure as evidence of systemic flaws within the Virginia rights restoration administrative process. They argue that the speed of the current rollout undermines the integrity of the state's voter rolls.
Residents should verify their registration status if they believe they are eligible for restored voting rights. The state will hold a crucial referendum on these policies for all citizens this November.
The takeaway
Maintaining accurate voter registration lists requires rigorous verification beyond automated data processing. Officials must now determine how many other erroneous notifications reached ineligible individuals.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest updates in Virginia Elections.
Source note: This article includes information reported by LifeZette.
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