The Sentencing Project: Disenfranchisement News & Updates - 8/02/07

Florida: Now that it's Official, Hurry up Already Writing in the Palm Beach Post, Mark Schlakman urged Gov. Charles Crist and his Cabinet to speed up the rights restoration process for the nearly one million citizens convicted of a felony. Reaching this goal would help to ensure that citizens can vote in time for the Presidential election, regain full citizenship, and be gainfully employed - particularly with regard to occupational license eligibility. Further, Schlakman argued that clemency issues should be considered apart from employment eligibility issues as they slow down the state's current process of identifying who is now eligible to vote. In the spring, Crist's Cabinet reinstated the right to vote to citizens convicted of non-violent felonies. Washington: After Supreme Court's Decision, Lawmakers Aim for Legislation "[The] ruling is just plain mean-spirited," the editorial board of the Columbian wrote in response to the Washington state Supreme Court's 6- 3 ruling last week that bans individuals from voting until court fees and restitution is paid. As a result, House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler and Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, in January, will rally for legislation that allows citizens charged with convictions the right to vote despite unpaid restitution or court fees, according to the Olympian. The two lawmakers are unsure of a victory considering the upcoming election season as Rep. Kessler said it will be a "difficult issue for my [Democratic] caucus." "The bottom line with my bill is that ... people not in prison, after meeting residency requirements and following registration procedures, would be eligible to vote," Kohl-Welles was quoted as saying in the Ballard News-Tribune. - - - - - - Help The Sentencing Project continue to bring you news and updates on disenfranchisement! Make a contribution today. Contact Information: email: zjennings@sentencingproject.org, web: http://www.sentencingproject.org