A Restoration Citation Addressed to 'Betty No Last Name' Puts Spanberger's Felon Voting-Rights Push Under Fire Before Virginia's Nov. 3 Vote

A form letter with a missing name has become the newest flashpoint in Virginia's fight over restoring voting rights to felons, Fox News reports.

The document. Virginia Beach attorney Tim Anderson told Fox he got an executive citation addressed to "Betty No Last Name" through a public records request to the Chesapeake Sheriff's Office. The citation says the recipient's voting rights, along with the right to serve on juries and run for office, have been restored. Fox says it counts her among more than 66,000 Virginians whose rights have reportedly been restored under Gov. Abigail Spanberger. Each citation carries the signatures of the governor and Secretary of the Commonwealth Candi Mundon-King. A sheriff's office official confirmed the citation is genuine and gave Fox a second copy.

The argument. "No governor and no secretary of the commonwealth would sign a restoration order that says Betty No Last Name, so they're not looking at it; they didn't review anything," Anderson said. He speculated the citations were produced by a mail merge and signed with an autopen, even though the language says each case was individually reviewed. That is his theory, and Fox does not report evidence of an autopen. He said he found the citation after contacting only a handful of law enforcement agencies and believes similar cases may exist elsewhere in the state. He also suggested the officials whose signatures appear could face criminal liability if the documents were found to be fraudulent.

The reaction. Former Attorney General Jason Miyares said: "Four mentions of 'Betty No Last Name' and still no last name. I'm thinking perhaps Abigail Spanberger's 'individualized review' is just imaginary." State Sen. Glen Sturtevant, R-Chesterfield, who has called for an independent audit, said reports have emerged of restoration citations going to deceased people. "Now a certificate for 'Betty No Last Name,' signed by the governor. Still no audit. Vote no on Question 3," he said. Del. Wren Williams, R-Stuart, added: "Congratulations to Betty No Last Name. You can now vote in Virginia."

The stakes. Virginians vote Nov. 3 on a ballot measure that would make voting rights restoration automatic upon release from prison.

Note for readers: Fox says it asked Spanberger, Mundon-King and the Chesapeake Sheriff's Office for comment, and no response from the governor's office appears in its report. We have not seen the citation. Whether other flawed citations exist is, for now, Anderson's belief.