OF KENTUCKY Fax (502)875-2841
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" CATHOLIC Frankfort, KY 40601-8487
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Testimony for HB 70: J anuary 14, 2014
Thank the committee.
For the record, I am Rev. Patrick Delahanty and I represent the 4 Roman Catholic Bishops of Kentucky. I
have testified on this issue several times. Today I want to focus on our concem that our justice system
must maintain a high standard of consistency in order to assure citizens that people are treated fairly and
ina manner that is neither arbitrary nor driven by factors such as race.
At the time of the 4" revision of the Ky. Constitution, the population was significantly fewer in number,
there was no prison system similar to todays, and the criminal code included far fewer felonies. To expect
a person to request from the govemor a restoration of the right to vote was reasonable.
That process worked well in the past. But now we have a vast prison system filled with thousands of
prisoners and an array of felonious acts that our ancestors could never have anticipated. A govemor today
would spend his entire time in office reviewing and signing applications if the thousands of eligible ex-
offenders requested restoration of voting rights.
Because the act of voting is so central to fulfilling one's duty as a citizen, we need a new process by
which this right is restored to former felons. All this bill does is allow the people of Kentucky to decide
whether or not to establish that new process. Rather than rely on a process that is open to the arbitrary
granting of voting rights to some former felons and not others by one govemor to the next and rather than
keeping in place a system that has led to the disenfranchisement of more than 200,000 persons, Kentucky
voters will have the opportunity to put in place a process that has bright lines.
If approved, this change in our Constitution will draw clear boundaries that remove the possibility of
arbitrary decision-making. It will eliminate the possibility that race or other factors, intended or
unintended, will play a role in restoring the right to vote to certain former felons.
This change in our Constitution will ensure consistency in application and assure Kentuckians they are
living under a rule of law implemented by our institutions that is credible and deserving of our trust.
Thank you.
Most Reverend Most Reverend Most Reverend Most Reverend Reverend
Joseph E. Kurtz,D.D. Roger.J. Foys,D.D. Ronald W. Gainer, D.D. William F. Medley, D.D. Patrick Delahanty
Archbishop of Louisville Bishop of Covington Bishop of Lexington. Bishop of Owensboro —_ Executive Director
