"We, The People" Deserve A Chance To Vote On Restoration Of Voting Rights For Ex-Felons. It Is That Simple.
Unfair penalties for ex-felons
What is it that state Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, has against voting?
Thayer, as chairman of the senate's State and Local Government Committee, has been sitting on a bill, passed by the House 83-14, that would allow Kentucky voters to determine whether the state constitution should be amended to automatically restore voting rights to most felons who have served their sentences.
Thayer, in a written statement to the Herald-Leader, confirmed his lack of interest in this legislation. Although voting rights are important, he said, "breaking the law does and should have consequences." Agreed, but isn't that what a prison term is about? Does one felony conviction mean a person should be denied a basic right of citizenship forever, long after a sentence has been served?
Thayer says he's met with supporters of the proposal but has "yet to be persuaded to change the current process." The problem is, he won't even give anyone else a chance to consider that change.
As a result, the full Senate won't get to vote on it nor will we, Kentucky's voters. Finally, it means it will be just that much harder for thousands of Kentuckians who have served their time and returned to society to vote.
That's a lot of people disenfranchised because one committee chairman won't put a bill on a committee agenda.
This is the second time a similar bill has passed the House to die for lack of attention in the Senate.
It's a shame. It violates our sense of simple fairness and of democratic engagement. People who have served their time and returned to society, who work and pay taxes, should have the right to vote.
It's an American principle. Most states recognize this, automatically restoring voting rights once a person has completed his sentence. In Kentucky, a felon must petition the governor to regain the right to vote. That leads to a further unfairness.
Gov. Ernie Fletcher, for example, restored rights to very few who petitioned while Gov. Steve Beshear does it more or less automatically.
Finally, there's the greatest unfairness of all. This disenfranchisement falls more heavily on some groups than others. A 2006 Kentucky League of Women Voters study found that one in four Kentucky African-American adults is banned from the polls, if a governor doesn't intervene.
Perhaps Kentucky voters, if an amendment were presented to them, would choose to continue the unfairness. But at least give those of us who have the right a chance to vote on it.
What is it that state Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, has against voting?
Thayer, as chairman of the senate's State and Local Government Committee, has been sitting on a bill, passed by the House 83-14, that would allow Kentucky voters to determine whether the state constitution should be amended to automatically restore voting rights to most felons who have served their sentences.
Thayer, in a written statement to the Herald-Leader, confirmed his lack of interest in this legislation. Although voting rights are important, he said, "breaking the law does and should have consequences." Agreed, but isn't that what a prison term is about? Does one felony conviction mean a person should be denied a basic right of citizenship forever, long after a sentence has been served?
Thayer says he's met with supporters of the proposal but has "yet to be persuaded to change the current process." The problem is, he won't even give anyone else a chance to consider that change.
As a result, the full Senate won't get to vote on it nor will we, Kentucky's voters. Finally, it means it will be just that much harder for thousands of Kentuckians who have served their time and returned to society to vote.
That's a lot of people disenfranchised because one committee chairman won't put a bill on a committee agenda.
This is the second time a similar bill has passed the House to die for lack of attention in the Senate.
It's a shame. It violates our sense of simple fairness and of democratic engagement. People who have served their time and returned to society, who work and pay taxes, should have the right to vote.
It's an American principle. Most states recognize this, automatically restoring voting rights once a person has completed his sentence. In Kentucky, a felon must petition the governor to regain the right to vote. That leads to a further unfairness.
Gov. Ernie Fletcher, for example, restored rights to very few who petitioned while Gov. Steve Beshear does it more or less automatically.
Finally, there's the greatest unfairness of all. This disenfranchisement falls more heavily on some groups than others. A 2006 Kentucky League of Women Voters study found that one in four Kentucky African-American adults is banned from the polls, if a governor doesn't intervene.
Perhaps Kentucky voters, if an amendment were presented to them, would choose to continue the unfairness. But at least give those of us who have the right a chance to vote on it.
Labels: Constitutional Rights, My Vote, The Constitution
posted by KYJurisDoctor at 12:06 PM
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