Biscuit Rigsby, a beagle-hound mix, has its Virginia Voting Rights Restored

In late October 2026, an official certificate restoring voting and jury-service rights was mistakenly issued in Virginia under the name of “Biscuit Rigsby,” a beagle-hound mix from Goochland County who had been dead for approximately five years.

Del. Tom Garrett, R-Buckingham — who received the letter from the constituent who owned the pet — is now calling for an investigation into how Gov. Abigail Spanberger could have restored voting and jury-service rights to a deceased animal.

“This is not a question of whether people who have served their sentences deserve a second chance. This is a question of whether the Commonwealth is exercising one of the Governor’s constitutional powers with even the most basic level of review,” Garrett said.

“Biscuit was a dog. Biscuit has been dead for five years. Yet an official document bearing the governor’s signature says the executive reviewed the particulars of Biscuit’s criminal case and determined her rights should be restored. Virginians deserve an explanation for how that is possible.”

Biscuit’s owner confirmed the letter’s authenticity and told Garrett in a statement that the pup was a “good dog and is greatly missed.”

“To my knowledge, she was never convicted of a felony, nor did she ever show any interest in voting,” the owner said.

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Wayne Creed

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