Florida: More Reform Needed In light of delays in processing applications for the restoration of voting rights, the ACLU has requested that the state automatically restore voting rights to hundreds of thousands of residents with felony convictions who have completed sentence. "It's very hard for anyone to know what's going on," said Muslima Lewis, a senior lawyer for the ACLU was quoted as saying by the New York Times. "The rules are convoluted and hard to understand." Reforms in 2007 spearheaded by Governor Crist eased the restoration process, but it remains plagued by delays and a lack of clarity as to eligibility requirements and the protocol of applying. The Sentencing Project Executive Director Marc Mauer said that there have been improvements in the state, but he added, "depending on which estimate you look at, prior to these numbers, there were as many as 900,000 people who have completed their sentences but were still ineligible." In some cases, the rights of individuals have actually been restored, but they are unaware of this fact because they have not been contacted by officials. The ACLU recently released a report stating that the restoration process is bureaucratic and confusing even for state officials and that many people are improperly being denied the right to vote. Minnesota: Lawmakers Support Voting Rights Two bills aimed at restoring voting rights to individuals with a felony conviction upon release from prison and providing notification about voting rights both passed out of the Senate State and Local Government Committee. The bills will now go on to the Judiciary Committee in the Senate. Tennessee: Policymakers Approve of 'Poll Tax' The Senate State and Local Government Committee approved legislation requiring payment of all fines and court costs before an individual becomes eligible to have their voting rights restored. Currently, a person convicted of a felony must be pardoned, discharged from custody or supervision, and have paid all restitution to the victim of the offense to have their rights of suffrage restored, Clarksville Onlinereported. Virginia: April Symposium Discusses Effects of Disenfranchisement Marc Mauer will be speaking about the impact of disenfranchisement on communities of color as part of a symposium at the University of Virginia, April 16 and 17. Professor Angela Y. Davis of the University of California, Santa Cruz will headline the conference entitled, "The Problem of Punishment: Race, Inequality and Justice," hosted by the Carter G. Woodson Institute for African-American and African Studies. Wisconsin: Paroled Citizen Charged for Voting in November Election An elections task force has charged a 31 year old, formerly incarcerated Milwaukee man with unlawfully registering to vote and voting on November 4, 2008 without having had his rights restored. - - - - - - 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.