virginia supreme court thursday reject republican bid democratic governor terry mcauliffe hold contempt continue effort restore vote right 206,000 felons high court say would require mcauliffe prove comply july 22 rule strike initial blanket attempt restore felons vote right one-page order also say justices would let republican legislative leaders seek document discovery process mcauliffe efforts restore vote right felons see possible aid tip virginia swing state nov. presidential election toward democratic nominee hillary clinton opinion poll show lead republican candidate donald trump state republican legislative leaders month file contempt motion mcauliffe come mcauliffe say restore vote right almost 13,000 felons case-by-case basis state supreme court block blanket clemency effort statement mcauliffe say please court decision restore virginians civil right morally right thing say mcauliffe say original order would move virginia away lifetime disenfranchisement hit african-americans particularly hard many convict benefit african-americans latinos two group vote overwhelmingly democratic candidates past president barack obama democrat virginia 2012 2008. virginia governor 's bid restore felon vote right advance