Georgia: A Dire Need to Define Crimes of Moral Turpitude The Georgia ACLU has asked the state General Assembly to define the constitution's list of felonies of moral turpitude which ban certain individuals from voting, the Times-Union reported. Under the state constitution, anyone convicted of a felony involving a crime of moral turpitude cannot vote until their sentence has been completed and all court-related fees and fines are satisfied. "The problem is, if the legislature meant all felonies, they could say all felonies," said Nancy Abudu, staff counsel for the ACLU Voting Rights Project. "Given disparities in race and class, the population it affects the most is also the population that is also disparately impacted by criminal justice." In Alabama last year, a post-sentence voting ban was lifted by Judge Robert Vance until the state defined its crimes of moral turpitude. The Alabama Supreme Court said Vance exceeded his authority, however, Alabama's crimes of moral turpitude were defined to include: felony DUI, felony possession of drugs, violation of liquor laws, assault and battery, speeding, trespass to land, attempted burglary, doing business without a license and aiding a prisoner to escape. Virginia: Expedited Process Motivates Churches to Join Restoration Effort Local churches in Virginia are rallying to educate formerly incarcerated citizens about voting rights restoration and working to get as many of them as possible registered to vote by August 1 - in time for the November election. "This is the election that can restore human dignity to thousands of people who have been disenfranchised in any number of ways: economically, educationally, in the justice system or with basic civil rights," said Gaylene Kanoyton, a civic volunteer with the state-wide effort. "That's why we need to make sure everyone who is eligible actually gets out to vote." Virginia and Kentucky are the only two states that permanently disenfranchise all citizens convicted of felony offenses. This year, however, Virginia enacted an expedited restoration application process because the state always gets swamped during presidential-election years, according to the Daily Press. The expedited process, which still requires action by the governor, is not extended to those convicted of violent and drug-distribution offenses. That process will take at least six months - usually longer - because it's more extensive, officials said. Applicants must be residents of Virginia or convicted of a felony in a Virginia, federal or military court. All costs, fines and restitution associated with their cases must be paid and individuals must have completed a three-year waiting period after the end of their sentence or release from probation. They also can't have a drunken-driving conviction in the past five years. "You don't have a say in anything," said Roderick Hart of Richmond who has been off probation since 2002. "You have no say whatsoever. ... But one vote can make a difference." National: Federal Reform Bill Gets Support Before its Introduction The West Virginia Gazette editorial board supports the Democracy Restoration Act of 2008 - a bill soon to be introduced by Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wisc) and Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) - which would restore federal voting rights to all citizens released from prison and living in local communities. In its editorial, the Gazette stated, "this election year, with politics dominating the news, would be a good time to reform the way prisoners are treated. It would [be] a big step to stop discriminating against outcasts by letting them rejoin democracy." The editorial further discussed the rippling effects of disenfranchising citizens charged with felony offenses. Erika Wood, Director of the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, was quoted in the editorial as saying "disenfranchising the head of a household can discourage his or her entire family from civic participation." Alabama: Rev. Kenneth Glasgow Honored for Restoration Work The Rev. Kenneth Glasgow was honored by the Alabama Democratic Conference during its annual convention in Montgomery last week. The Rev. Glasgow, Director of The Ordinary People Society, located in Dothan, received the Lyndon Baines Johnson Political Freedom Award for his vote restoration work with formerly incarcerated citizens. Upon receiving the award, the Rev. Glasgow presented more than 10,000 completed voter registration applications that were collected by his T.O.P.S./Prodigal Child Project. - - - - - - 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