Editor, Gazette-Journal:

A 50-year-old man from Richmond was jailed for voting in the 2008 election. He had been convicted of a non-violent felony (cocaine possession) 20 years ago, and Virginia is one of only two or three states that forbids convicted felons from voting for the rest of their lives.

Isn’t it time this law was changed? Non-violent felons who have served their punishment and have lived law-abiding lives for some years, in my opinion, ought to be encouraged to participate in society. It serves no one’s interests to continue to punish them years later.

The right to vote should be restored automatically.

Zack Loesch

Gloucester Point, Va.
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