Editor, Gazette-Journal: Not so long ago, just before the turn to this century, Virginia held the shameful distinction of being the only state in the nation to prohibit elected school boards. The law was a vestige of Virginia’s infamous 1901 Constitutional Convention, which was convened for the stated purpose of disenfranchising as many black voters as possible. From that convention, we also got poll taxes, literacy tests and felon disenfranchisement. Poll taxes and literacy tests were banned by the 1960s, and in 1992 Virginia finally allowed elected school boards. Now, Virginia holds the shameful distinction of being the only state that permanently removes the right to vote for anyone convicted of a felony unless restored by the governor on an individual basis. Voting yes for Constitutional Amendment #3 will automatically allow all former felons who have completed their sentences to vote. This is not a hot-button partisan or ideological issue. It won’t draw the attention of the Shanno...