Louisiana: New Law Requires State to Notify Individuals of Voter Status A felon enfranchisement notice bill was signed by Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal which requires the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections to provide each person who completes their felony sentence with information about regaining the right to vote. The bill also requires that individuals are given a voter registration form. The law will go into effect August 15. Florida: Clock Running Down for Eligible Formerly Incarcerated Individuals to Register to Vote Governor Charlie Crist's decision to ease the restoration process for certain formerly incarcerated individuals last year was expected to impact between 250,000 and 300,000 citizens. However, the actual number of restored voters may be about 115,000 once the clemency board signs all the certificates, according to the Florida Parole Commission. Many barriers have slowed the process, according to the St. Petersburg Times. The Parole Commission suffered financial setbacks and has decreased staff despite a backlog of 60,000 restoration requests. And despite law enforcement and corrections agencies' efforts to send restoration certificates to formerly incarcerated citizens, many have been returned as undeliverable. "There are just too many impediments, and it doesn't seem like easy solutions are being adopted," said Florida ACLU attorney Muslima Lewis, who runs the group's efforts on restoration of rights. The ACLU and the People for the American Way Foundation have sponsored civil rights seminars and printed posters promoting a toll-free helpline, but funding was pulled last year. "We're looking for a needle in a haystack," said Sharon Lettman with People for the American Way Foundation. "At the end of the day, if they haven't seen our public service announcement on television or if they haven't seen a newspaper, they may not find out they can vote." Voters have until July 28 to register in time for the August 26 primary. For additional news, read Capitol News Service coverage. Tennessee: Changing Attitudes, Lawsuit May Increase Number of Voters Come November According to the Tennessee Secretary of State's Office, the voting rights of 469 citizens with felony offenses were restored over the last six months - twice the number of people who had voting rights restored during the same time last year, an Associated Press article reported. "We have a black man, Obama, that could lead a country that once enslaved people like him," said James Settles, who founded Aphesis House, a network of transitional living homes for ex-offenders. "I think some of the men would like to take part, experience that vote. But they've got a whole lot of things in their way." Tennessee does not automatically restore voting rights to persons who have completed their sentence. Citizens hoping to vote must first pay restitution and child support, which is being challenged in court by the ACLU Voting Rights Project. The first motion will be heard later this month in Nashville. National: Formerly Incarcerated Individuals Need Voting Rights in Order to Speak Up for Their Issues Writing about the lack of input formerly incarcerated citizens have upon returning to their communities due felony disenfranchisement laws, Dr. Henrie M. Treadwell, Associate Director of Development at the National Center for Primary Care at Morehouse School of Medicine expressed her support for vote restoration in a Blacknews.com op-ed. "As voters express their desire for change in America's presidential campaign, part of the change should be ensuring that all Americans can execute their constitutional right to vote." Delaware: House Bill Defines Completion of Sentence as Having Paid Restitution Delaware bill HB 457, which requires the full payment of fees and fines as part of the definition of "completion of sentence," was passed in the House earlier this week. The restoration process under the proposed law would include receiving a pardon or waiting five years after completion of a sentence as well as paying all fines and restitution before regaining voting rights. The Senate still has to approve the measure and lawmakers must approve the same bill a second time during the next General Assembly, which begins in January 2009, to complete the constitutional change. Read the Delaware News Journal for more coverage. Virginia: Citizens' Voting Rights Turns Political On NewAmericaMedia.org, Dr. Earl Ofari Hutchinson balances the political implications and motives of Virginia Governor Tim Kaine's consideration of expediting the restoration of voting rights to certain individuals with a felony conviction. Hutchinson stated, "[w]hatever the motive, the only thing that really counts is that the permanent felon bans that shove tens of thousands of ex offenders to a political netherworld be ended and ended now." - - - - - - 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