Chesapeake, Virginia

A Virginia rights-restoration letter from Gov. Abigail Spanberger's administration was sent to "Biscuit Rigsby," a beagle-hound mix that died five years ago, restoring voting and jury-service rights to the deceased pet. The letter, bearing the state seal and signatures of Spanberger and Secretary of the Commonwealth Candi Mundon-King, followed a similar incident involving a Chesapeake woman whose rights were restored without officials confirming her surname. Del. Tom Garrett, who received the letter from Biscuit's owner, is calling for an investigation into how the review process allowed the error. The episode surfaces days before Virginia voters decide a ballot measure on automatic rights restoration for felons after release.