The Sentencing Project: Disenfranchisement News 3/6/09

National: Bipartisan, Religious Support for Federal Disenfranchisement Reform Erika Wood of the Brennan Center authored a Politico article on the Poverty Forum's support for the Democracy Restoration Act. The coalition of Christian leaders and policy experts from both conservative and liberal camps sent its recommendations to the Obama administration in what has been called a "rare instance of true bipartisanship." Federal legislation, soon to be introduced by Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.), would restore voting rights to people with felony convictions who are out of prison and living in the community. Alabama: Lobbying Against Disenfranchisement Bill Grassroots advocate Kenneth Glasgow of The Ordinary People's Society is lobbying against a bill that would revoke voting rights from individuals regardless of the offense they were charged with, the Dothan Eagle reported. The proposed bill would increase the number of crimes that involve moral turpitude from about 15 to more than 70 and revoke the voting rights of people charged with those crimes. Currently, individuals who have committed a crime of moral turpitude - including murder, robbery and rape - are disenfranchised. State Rep. Randy Wood, (R-Anniston), the House sponsor for the bill backed by Attorney General Troy King, said individuals who would lose their right to vote under the proposed bill would truly show that they are interested in being a part of society by applying to the state Pardons and Parole Board to have their rights restored, according to the Montgomery Advertiser. "I'm not saying I don't want people to have the right to vote, but losing the right to vote is part of the punishment," said Rep. Wood. "This way, if you serve your time and paid your debts to society, you can apply to have your voting rights restored and go vote." Sen. Bobby Singleton, (D-Greensboro) is drafting a bill that would do exactly the opposite of the King bill by giving individuals who have completed their sentences automatic restoration. "When you take a person's voting rights, you take them from being able to get public housing, public assistance, student aid, Pell Grants. They can't get a business license," Glasgow said. "It puts them in a position where they have a sentence for a certain amount of time, but the collateral consequences last a lifetime. Those of us who have been incarcerated who have paid our dues to society are not second-class citizens, we're second-chance citizens." Today, a press conference is scheduled at noon at Freedom Park, followed by a Criminal Justice Summit from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Wallace College Hank Sanders Technology Center, Meeting Room 105. - - - - - - Help The Sentencing Project continue to bring you news and updates on disenfranchisement! Make a contribution today. Contact Information -- e-mail: [email protected], web: http://www.sentencingproject.org.