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WA: Convicted felons entitled to vote, court rules. Judge: Racial discrimination claims have merit

By Real Cost of Prisons Project (The Sentencing Project)

Convicted felons entitled to vote, court rules Judge: Racial discrimination claims have merit Tuesday, January 5, 2010 By LEVI PULKKINEN SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF In a move that could see Washington inmates voting from prison, a federal appeals court has thrown out the state's restrictions on felon voting. Under state law, residents convicted of a felony currently lose the right to vote until they are released from custody and off of Department of Corrections supervision. Tuesday's split ruling by a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel puts those restrictions in doubt, as two of three judges reviewing the voting rights lawsuit found that the state restrictions unfairly penalize minorities. Attorneys for six Washington state prisoners, Circuit Court Judge A...continue to full post

Full post as published by The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog on January 06, 2010 (boomark / email).