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State restoration routes

What your state's own remedy is, who decides it, how long it takes, what it costs, and what it does — and does not — do about the separate federal bar. One row for each jurisdiction that we have checked, with its statute and the day we checked it.
3. Date (today or later)

VIRGINIA · The state's own restoration route · on Oct 9, 2026

A route exists

In short
**Watch this one.** Ballot Question 3 at the 3 November 2026 election would change the voter qualifications so that a person convicted of a felony "is automatically invested with the right to vote upon release from incarceration". Va. Code §§ 53.1-231.1 and 53.1-231.2 carry the heading "(For contingent repeal date, see Acts 2026, cc. 992 and 1081, cl. 3)". Whether an automatic return of the right to vote satisfies § 18.2-308.2(C)'s precondition for the firearm petition ("his civil rights have been restored by the Governor or other appropriate authority") is an open question the statute does not answer. Re-check the week of 9 November 2026. Virginia's automatic record sealing, in force since 1 July 2026, does not restore gun rights: sealing 'shall not serve to restore ... a person's right to possess ... a firearm' (Va. Code § 19.2-392.5(K)). [Read the statute](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title19.2/chapter23.2/section19.2-392.5/).
Route
Two steps: restoration of civil rights by the Governor, then a separate circuit-court petition for firearm rights
Who decides
The Governor, then the circuit court
Waiting period
None fixed for either step
Fee
Step 1: none. Step 2: the restoration statute sets no fee. The general circuit-court clerk's fee of $60 for "all civil actions that do not include one or more claims for the award of monetary damages" (§ 17.1-275(A)(26)) may or may not apply. Not confirmed.
What it restores
Only the step-2 court order reaches firearms — the Commonwealth says the Governor's restoration does not
Without this route, does the state firearm bar stay?
Yes
Official form
https://www.restore.virginia.gov/
Effective
—
Next scheduled change
None scheduled in the sources checked
Statute / rule
Va. Code § 18.2-308.2(C); §§ 53.1-231.1, 53.1-231.2 · Commonwealth of Virginia — Restoration of Rights
Checked
Verified Sep 19, 2026
What changed →

State law, with its statute and check date. We do not tell you whether your state's remedy cures your federal bar — that turns on your own facts and on federal case law, and it is the question to take to an attorney. Information only, not legal advice.

Sources

  1. 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(20) — official text — checked Oct 8, 2026
  2. 27 CFR 478.11 — definitions — checked Oct 8, 2026
  3. DOJ — 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(4) and mental health — checked Oct 8, 2026
  4. DOJ — Frequently asked questions — checked Oct 8, 2026