richmond virginia republicans monday sue nullify democratic governor terry mcauliffe order restore vote right 206,000 felons move could affect november presidential election lawsuit virginia supreme court ask justices require vote registrars sign felons base mcauliffe april 22 order cancel felons registrations since order issue republicans argue mcauliffe order unconstitutional lawsuit head leaders republican-controlled state legislature governor authorize restore vote right convict felon individualize grant clemency may issue blanket restoration vote right lawsuit say virginia consider key swing state 2016 election governor order could tip balance favor democratic candidate win party nomination house speaker william howell say statement mcauliffe order violate 240 years practice governor mcauliffe executive order defy plain text constitution flout separation power precedent annals virginia history howell say mcauliffe democrats hail restoration right felons serve sentence complete probation long overdue since sign order mcauliffe say nearly 80 percent felons whose right restore nonviolent offenders free decade caucasian felons make 51.5 percent total whose right restore african-americans 45.9 percent mcauliffe order felons petition governor individually restoration vote right two dozen state ease restrictions felons cast ballot past two decades accord sentence project prison reform advocacy group virginia gop sue governor restore vote right felons