Virginia voting unit opens amid mistaken rights letters

New voting-rights unit

Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones launched a Voter Protection Section on Oct. 13 to enforce the state’s voting-rights laws. His office said the unit responds to changes in federal Voting Rights Act enforcement, actions by President Donald Trump and federal efforts that could restrict ballot access.

Ajay Saini, whom Jones selected to lead the section, said it would work with the Virginia Department of Elections and the attorney general’s Federal Accountability Unit. Its stated goals include defending Virginia’s authority over elections, maintaining election integrity and protecting eligible voters’ access to the ballot.

Jones’ announcement did not identify a specific Trump administration action. Trump signed a March 2025 executive order seeking proof-of-citizenship requirements for voter registration and changes to mail-ballot rules. He also supported the SAVE Act, which would require voter identification.

Restoration letters draw scrutiny

The unit’s launch came as Virginia faced questions about voting-rights restoration notices sent to deceased people. Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s administration has restored voting rights to more than 66,000 Virginians with felony convictions.

Several residents reported receiving notices addressed to deceased relatives. Fredericksburg resident Howard Lambert told Fox News that a letter addressed to his late daughter said officials had reviewed her case and restored her rights.

Republican officials argued that the new section should examine how those notices were generated. Virginia House Minority Leader Terry Kilgore called for officials to determine how many deceased people received restorations and how the errors occurred.

The letters and Jones’ new unit involve separate parts of Virginia’s election system. The notices have nevertheless become a test of how the state checks records while expanding its voting-rights enforcement work.