Edit: That's a pretty flippant response to a complicated answer.
You could write a book about how West Virginia got into this mess. We're a third world country right here in the United States. Most of our industry is owned by foreign (out of state) interests. We generate wealth and it gets shipped out with no benefit to the people who live here. Our natural resources alone should make us wealthy, but they are stolen from us and we are left sick and impoverished.
Then come the Republicans, with their rhetoric of "gubbmint interference" and these brain-damaged idiots lap it up. We elect a Democrat governor who then switches parties to support Trump. How do we react? We fucking reelect him.
I've been out more than 25 years, with no recidivism.
Not all states restore your rights automatically, but the wording on the document is quite clear about restoring voting rights.
Restoration of Citizenship is a vital document, just like a birth certificate.
Edit to add a bit of the relevant law:
All rights are automatically restored upon âunconditional dischargeâ of sentence or unconditional pardon. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 13-1. This language has been interpreted to include payment of all court debt, a barrier to voting ruled unconstitutional under the State constitution in September, 2020, that is the subject of ongoing litigation.1 The agency releasing the prisoner (or probationer) must file a certificate evidencing unconditional discharge and restoration of the rights of citizenship with the court in the county of conviction (North Carolina state offenses) or the county of residence (for offenses under federal law or the law of another state). § 13-2.
The paperwork I have mentions "...all rights including the right to vote..." I have gotten conflicting advice on whether that includes firearms, but I'm not pushing it. I can hunt with a bow.
Not a bullshit felony, either. I pled to 3 armed robbery charges, got 14 years with a mandatory 7 in North Carolina.
My sentence made me ineligible for parole, and when I was released they presented me with a document called "Restoration of Citizenship" which restored all rights (except firearm ownership I think. Not gonna test that one.)
If someone is giving you greasy roux with bits of meat in it, they don't like you.
Good biscuits and gravy will make you smack your mama for lying to you about what a good breakfast is.