The Sentencing Project: Disenfranchisement News & Updates - 5/3/07

Virginia: Let’s Follow in Their Footsteps … and Theirs, Too The Daily Press published an editorial expressing the need for Virginia to follow in the footsteps of Florida and Maryland by reforming their disenfranchisement laws. Current Virginia law permanently disenfranchises all individuals upon conviction of a felony. "They can ask to have their rights restored once they've completed their sentences, but the process is onerous, mean- spirited and uncertain. The result: More than 240,000 Virginians are deprived of the right to vote," the Press stated. Maryland: Next Step - Voter Education Drive for Newly Enfranchised Citizens In response to a remark by Maryland Senate President Mike Miller questioning the practical impact of the state's recent disenfranchisement reform, a Baltimore Sun columnist, Dan Rodricks, suggested that the state begin a voter education drive for the individuals who will be eligible to vote in July. Soon after Gov. Martin O'Malley signed legislation ending the state's post-sentence disenfranchisement laws last month, Sen. Miller said, "People that have a history of not voting are not going to just pick it up on their own." Rodricks took issue with Sen. Miller's pessimistic tone and, instead, turned his remarks into a challenge to the legislature to begin a statewide voter education campaign. "It takes bold and magnanimous leadership to create reform" and the recent developments in Maryland are an important step in that direction, but as Rodricks' column clearly shows, there is substantial remaining work to do in order to make the promise of voting rights real to thousands of Marylanders. International: Australian Woman Hopes Court Grants Voting in Prison A woman held at an Australian prison is bringing a High Court challenge to that country's disenfranchisement policies. If successful, this case could restore the right to vote for 20,000 other incarcerated Australians, according to The Age. The petitioner, Vickie Lee Roach, argues that the Commonwealth Electoral Act provisions that bar persons in prison from voting in federal elections are unconstitutional. For more coverage, see information, see news.com.au. National: Growing Momentum for Disenfranchisement Reform Coming from Both Sides of the Political Aisle A recent piece in Slate Magazine highlights the growing momentum for reform of felony disenfranchisement policies across the country. In drawing particular attention to the legislative reform in Maryland and the recent developments in Florida, Slate legal affairs columnist Emily Bazelon observed that the country is currently experiencing a "restore-the- vote craze." Moreover, Bazelon notes that while many may find it curious that a Republican governor of Florida is one of the leading figures of recent reform, it should be noted that other high profile Republicans such as former Vice-Presidential candidate Jack Kemp and Prison Fellowship founder Chuck Colson have joined the growing bipartisan calls for policy change. - - - - - - Help The Sentencing Project continue to bring you news and updates on disenfranchisement! Make a contribution today. Contact Information: Email: [email protected] web: http://www.sentencingproject.org