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Advocacy Blog
Monday, August 11, 2008
Activists Urge Ex-Offenders with Felony Convictions to Vote
Grassroots activists are urging ex-offenders with felony convictions to vote. A detailed article highlighting the activists' efforts appeared in today's Washington Post. The Post article focuses mainly on efforts to urge ex-offenders in Florida to vote. Ex-offenders in Florida with felony convictions are now eligible to vote thanks to a law passed in 2006, which allows non-violent ex-offenders with felony convictions to vote if they have completed probation, paid restitution, and do not have any charges pending.
It appears, however, that many ex-offenders are not aware of the law. Reggie Mitchell, the former Florida Legal Director of People for the American Way, has been a leader in the effort to make eligible ex-offenders aware that they can vote and urge them to do so.
The Washington Post reports that "[s]ince the law was changed, the ACLU and People for the American Way have been reaching out to ex-offenders through Web sites that help people figure out whether the state [of Florida] has acted on their cases. Mitchell oversaw the project that helped build the foundation's Restore My Vote site (http://www.restoremyvote.org) ."
Similar efforts have occurred around the country. Every state except for Vermont and Maine limit the voting rights for individuals convicted of a felony. Kentucky and Virginia deny the right to vote to all individuals convicted of a felony. The laws of the other states vary and fall between the two extremes.
Posted by Lateefah Williams
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