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May 08, 2009
WA: Voting Rights Restored to people with felony convictions
Voting rights restored to former felons in Washington state
by Elizabeth Hovde, Oregonian columnist
Tuesday May 05, 2009
Cheers to Washington state lawmakers for following Oregon and numerous other states in allowing former felons to vote.
Washington state Governor Chris Gregoire recently signed legislation allowing ex-convicts to get their voting rights restored once they've served their prison sentences and community supervision. The law takes effect July 26.
Currently, ex-cons have not been eligible to vote until hard-to-track and hard-to-pay court costs and restitution have been paid. A press release from Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed's office says those costs "carry an annual interest rate of 12 percent and some ex-cons are essentially barred from voting for life because they can't pay off the obligation." Some have likened the old system to a poll tax of sorts on the poor. It is.
Reed, a Republican, strongly backed the measure. Not only will it make the administration of elections easier (it's laborious and confusing determining who can and cannot vote based on lingering monetary obligations), it will help ex-convicts do exactly what the rest of society needs them to do: reintegrate into society. That's hard to do when you feel like a second-class citizen or when you can't engage in the political process in the most elemental of ways.
The bill rightly allows a crime victim or county clerk to request that a judge revoke a former felon's restoration of voting privileges if he or she does not keep up with restitution or other financial commitments.
Laws regarding voting rights for former felons vary from state to state, making voter registration somewhat confusing for those who have served time. In Washington and Oregon the law is now simple: If you aren't incarcerated, you can register to vote and be a part of the election process.
Voting is important. It helps people feel connected to their communities. And feeling connected is exactly what ex-cons need to help them steer clear of crime and lead constructive lives after prison.
http://www.oregonlive.com/hovde/index.ssf/2009/05/voting_rights_restored_to_form.html
Posted by lois at May 8, 2009 04:48 PM