The Sentencing Project: Disenfranchisement News 1/23/09

Maine: NAACP to Hold Annual Voter Registration Drive in Maine Prisons After negotiating with the Department of Corrections, the NAACP will now be able to hold annual voter registration drives at every prison facility in Maine. In honor of the anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the annual drive this year will run for a week beginning August 6, and span six state-run facilities. Maine and Vermont are the only states that allow inmates to vote. To read more, see CorrectionsOne.com. Washington: State on Its Way to Easing Voting Process A felon voting rights bill was introduced this week in Washington State in an effort to restore rights after completion of sentence, the Seattle Times reported. Currently, individuals must pay all court fines and petition the court in order to get their voting rights restored. Supported by the ACLU, HB-1517, was introduced by Jeannie Darneille (D-Tacoma), who has introduced similar legislation over the past nine sessions. She said she is confident the bill will pass this session. A companion bill is being introduced in the Senate by Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-Seattle.) International: Inmates to Vote in Next Election The Independent Electoral Commission in Kwazulu-Natal, a province of South Africa, has decided to allow patients in hospitals and prison inmates to vote in this year's elections to ensure those incarcerated can exercise their constitutional right, the Sowetan reported. "We have a special programme for prisoners in correctional facilities. We will begin with voter education and then register them," said commission electoral officer, Mawethu Mosery. "Come election day, we will help them to cast their votes. This programme will also include awaiting trial prisoners," he continued. Virginia: Disenfranchisement Undermines Democracy, Faith in Prison System In a Daily Press letter to the editor, a Williamsburg resident has urged her fellow Virginians to contact lawmakers to make the restoration process for individuals with felony offenses less time consuming. " ... In a society that places such an emphasis on 'getting out there and voting,' I'm wondering why we are still restricting the voting rights of some of our Virginia citizens, prohibiting them from participating in the democratic process," Kriston Rhodes wrote. Virginia is one of only two states that permanently disenfranchises all persons with felony convictions. Individuals with nonviolent offenses seeking restoration must wait three years after completing their sentence, while those with violent offenses must wait five years. "Failing to restore voting rights to Virginia citizens not only undermines the importance of participation in a democracy but also demonstrates a lack of faith in our prison system," she continued. - - - - - - 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