Merlene Davis: Let us decide on restoration of felons’ right to vote | Merle... _http://www.kentucky.com/2013/03/13/2555507/merlene-davis-let-us- deci...
Kentucky.com
Merlene. pays Let us decide on restoration of
Published: March 13, 2013
Facebook Twitter Google Plus Reddit E-mail Print
1 of 4 10/15/2013 12:06 PM
Merlene Davis: Let us decide on restoration of felons’ right to vote | Merle... _http://www.kentucky.com/2013/03/13/2555507/merlene-davis-let-us- deci...
By Merlene Davis — Herald-Leader columnist
By the start of the new session of the General Assembly onJ an. 7, 2014, Rep. J esse Crenshaw will resubmit
House Bill 70 for consideration yet again.
That's a pretty sure bet.
He has done itso many times that it's reminiscent of the movie Groundhog Day.
2 of 4 10/15/2013 12:06 PM
Merlene Davis: Let us decide on restoration of felons’ right to vote | Merle... _http://www.kentucky.com/2013/03/13/2555507/merlene-davis-let-us- deci...
3 of 4
Session after legislative session, the bill to automatically restore the voting rights of non-violent ex-felons has
won bipartisan approval in the House. And session after legislative session, no one has found the time or the will
to consider it in the Senate committee to which it has been sent. With the time remaining in this session, this year
doesn't appear to be any different.
“We'll just start all over," Crenshaw, D-Lexington, said.
It's not like the bill would bring an immediate turnaround in the law. The restoration of voter rights is a
constitutional change, requiring voters to give it the thumbs up or down. So what the bill is asking is that the
legislators, whom we voted for, give their approval to allow us to decide what is best for our state and neighbors.
Then again, maybe that is fear.
A League of Women Voters study released this year suggests that there are 243,000 disenfranchised voters in
the state, a gain of 57,000 since 2006. The study ranked Kentucky third nationally in the rate of
disenfranchisement and second with blacks.
And we are one of only four states that ban former felons for life unless they seek special dispensation.
Ex-felons must submit an application for a voting pardon, the rules for which are up to the discretion of the
governor. Gov. Steve Beshear, for example, loosened restrictions that were put into effect by former Gov. Ernie
Fletcher. As a result, the number of applicants has surged.
Beyond the League and the House legislators who passed the measure 75 to 25, the billis favored by advocacy
groups Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, the NAACP and the American Civil Liberties Union.
Plus, a Courier-J ournal Bluegrass Poll released last month suggested 51 percent of registered Kentucky voters
are in favor of automatic restoration, with only 38 percent opposing it.
"It is always nice to see the \pport this," Crenshaw said. "It is my belief that if we get past the Senate,
if it gets on the ballot, it will
So why won't the senators an ve voted on? Are they afraid we the citizens will do the right thing?
HB 70 was sent to the Senate State and Local Government Committee where it died without a murmur.
Committee chairman J oe Bowen, a Republican from my hometown of Owensboro, and former chairman Damon
Thayer, a Republican from Georgetown, who still sits on the committee, haven't seen fit to give ita chance.
Still, Crenshaw is not discouraged.
He mentioned the years it took before a bill to raise the drop-out age to 18 passed both houses. It finally did this
year.
| liked what Cindy Heine, co-president of the state chapter of the League of Women Voters, said when the study
was released.
"The League was created by women who struggled many years seeking the right to vote," she said ina
statement. "We believe citizens who have made a mistake should have that right reinstated once they have
completed their full sentence and/or parole."
That's empathy.
What has been displayed by the leadership of the Senate committee is politics.
Maybe if we start talking with our friends and neighbors about HB 70, we can remind those leaders that the
Groundhog Day movie ended only after the main character changed and started helping people.
This state, this country and especially ex-felons would be so much better off if we elected more leaders who
possess that quality.
10/15/2013 12:06 PM
Merlene Davis: Let us decide on restoration of felons’ right to vote | Merle... _http://www.kentucky.com/2013/03/13/2555507/merlene-davis-let-us- deci...
4 of 4
Merlene Davis: (859) 231-3218. Email: mdavis1@ herald-leader.com. Twitter: @ reportmerle. Blog:
Merlenedavis.bloginky.com.
Facebook Twitter Google Plus Reddit E-mail Print
Join The Conversation
Lexington Herald-Leader is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and
observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the
newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity,
hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. Thank you for taking the time to offer your
thoughts.
Commenting FAQs | Terms of Service
Email Newsletters >
Manage newsletter subscriptions
Tablets >
Apps and services for tablet devices
Mobile >
Apps and services for your mobile phone
Social Media >
at updates via Facebook and Twitter
e-Edition >
at daily paper delivered to your computer
Home Delivery >
Manage your home delivery account
Digital Subscriptions >
Manage your online subscriptions
© 2013 wwwkentucky.com and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved. http://www.kentucky.com
10/15/2013 12:06 PM
