GOP Will File Lawsuit Over Voting Rights for Felons in Virginia

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe's decision to allow more than 200,000 felons vote in the upcoming elections isn't sitting well with Republicans, and they're going to fight it in court.

GOP leadership announced that they would sue over the Democratic governor's executive order, which restores the rights of felons to vote or even run for office, according to an Associated Press report.

Republicans will argue that the governor is overstepping his constitutional authority, and that it is clearly a move designed to earn likely Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton more votes in the state, which could prove critical to the election.

McAuliffe is arguing that felons who have served their time should get a second chance. He also claimed he's consulted with legal experts who have told him he is in the right.

An estimated 206,000 people in Virginia are convicted felons out of more than 8 million residents.

Republicans will hire Attorney Charles J. Cooper to fight the order.

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