The 2026 Second Chance Index
How Virginia ranks for second chances
Virginia ranks 29th of 51 (tied) in the 2026 Second Chance Index, scoring 59 out of 100 for clearing a record, voting rights and where its felony line falls. That's 2.5 points below the median state (61.5). It shares the rank with Washington.
Built from Virginia's record-clearing, voting and felony-class records, last checked October 29, 2026. General information, not legal advice.
59 out of 100
- Clearing a record
- 43 / 50
- Voting rights
- 6 / 30
- Where the felony line falls
- 10 / 20
Every point Virginia earned and missed
Each line is a field we publish about Virginia, checked against state law and official guidance. The points are the index's; the method lists every one.
Clearing a record
43 of 50 points| What we score | Virginia | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Some records clear automatically | Some records clear automatically | 15/15 |
| A general route to clear a felony | Yes | 12/12 |
| A general route to clear a misdemeanor | Yes | 8/8 |
| A way to clear a case with no conviction | Yes | 8/8 |
| A fee waiver on at least one route | None found | 0/4 |
| A DUI conviction can be cleared | No | 0/3 |
Voting rights
6 of 30 points| What we score | Virginia | Points |
|---|---|---|
| When the vote comes back after a felony | Extra steps for some | 6/30 |
Where the felony line falls
10 of 20 points| What we score | Virginia | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Theft becomes a felony at | $1,000 | 5/10 |
| Repeat DUI becomes a felony | From the 3rd offense | 5/10 |
Where the 41 missing points are
- 24When the vote comes back after a felony: Extra steps for some
- 5Theft becomes a felony at: $1,000
- 5Repeat DUI becomes a felony: From the 3rd offense
- 4A fee waiver on at least one route: None found
- 3A DUI conviction can be cleared: No
The index scores what state law says, not how courts apply it. A lower score doesn't mean Virginia offers no relief; its pages list every route.
States ranked near Virginia
- #27Delaware61
- #28Kansas59.5
- #29Virginia59
- #29Washington59
- #31Maine58
Cite this page
Second Chance Index, "How Virginia ranks for second chances" https://secondchanceindex.com/state-rankings/virginia, checked October 29, 2026.