Washington State: Voting Equals Productive, Law-abiding Citizens

Samuel Merrill, the legislative chair for the Friends Committee on Washington Public Policy, published an op-ed column in the News Tribune applauding Gov. Chris Gregoire's recent move to eliminate what was referred to as a "poll tax" for voters with felony offenses. Applauding the legislators who backed the bill, he stated "the right to vote is an essential step in encouraging those returning from prison to feel that they, too, have a stake in our society and a chance to become productive, stable and law-abiding citizens." The law takes affect July 26.

Pennsylvania: Inmates to Receive Notification of Voting Rights, Materials

A state House committee passed a bill that would require Pennsylvania prisons to provide soon-to-be released inmates with voter-registration materials. "Doing so would benefit the inmates and society," stated a Daily Review editorial. "State lawmakers should pass the bill and Gov. Ed Rendell should sign it as a means to help those who have broken the law to embrace better citizenship, and to help their communities in the process."
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