2008 House Bill 70 (Restore voting rights to convicted felons)

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Introduced by Rep. Jesse Crenshaw on January 8, 2008, to put a constitutional amendment on the 2008 ballot automatically restoring voting rights to certain convicted felons.
- Referred to the House Elections, Const. Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee on January 9, 2008.
- Reported to the House on February 5, 2008, favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar .
- Amendment offered by Rep. Jeffrey Hoover on February 6, 2008, to add felons convicted of manslaughter in the first degree to the category of felons that would only have voting rights restored by executive pardon.
- The amendment passed in the House by voice vote on April 1, 2008.
- Amendment offered by Rep. Jeffrey Hoover on February 6, 2008, to add felons convicted of promoting prostitution in the first degree or in the second degree trafficking to the category of felons that would only have voting rights restored by executive pardon.
- Amendment offered by Rep. Jeffrey Hoover on February 6, 2008, to add felons convicted of trafficking in a controlled substance within 1000 yards of a school to the category of felons that would only have voting rights restored by executive pardon.
- Amendment offered by Rep. Jeffrey Hoover on February 6, 2008, to add felons convicted of manufacturing methamphetamine to the category of felons that would only have voting rights restored by executive pardon.
- Amendment offered by Rep. Addia Wuchner on February 7, 2008, to add that convicted felons receive a certificate of completion of a civics review course before the restoration of their voting rights.
- Amendment offered by Rep. James R. Comer on March 3, 2008, to require convicted felons to pay 25% of the cost of incarceration before restoring voting rights.
Passed in the House (80 to 14) on April 1, 2008. [Vote Details and Comments]
Received in the Senate on April 1, 2008.

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Comments

Introduced by Rep. Jesse Crenshaw on January 8, 2008. Passed in the House (80 to 14) on April 1, 2008. New Comment

1) Restoring Voting rights to felons [by Anonymous Citizen on October 8, 2008]
I am for this bill, but i have a problem with a few of the stipulations. Why do you put that they can get their voting rights back if they get a pardon. I say if a felon serves out their sentence and gets out of prison they have paid for their crime, why should they have to pay for the rest of their life. Also, society is so unfair to felons when it comes to getting a job, this stigma is held over them for the remainder of their lives, no wonder so many felons go back to getting into trouble because they can not get ahead in life, they can not find a job, at least not a job that pays anything that you can raise a family on. It is a shame how society treats felons. I hope that in the future that society takes a good look at how they can help acclimate felons back into society and let society help with hiring ex felons. This would help in the long run with getting felons back into the work force. Thanks for letting me voice my opinion
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2) my comment [by Anonymous Citizen on July 9, 2008]
I am so tired of these better than thou straight and narrow citizens passing so much judgement on people who have made mistakes in their past. Not all people who have felony records are murders, robbers or rapists. A lot of these people were kids when they made their mistake. You have people who are in their 20s,30s,40s and even 50s who may have done something when they were 17, 18 or 19 and cant even feed their kids because they cant find a job! A basic necessity in life. Imagine a 27 year old woman with a drug charge from the age of 17. If she has kids they wont eat cause the federal govt wont give her food stamps or money b/c of her drug charge. Why does she need them in the first place? Because no one will give her a job I'd say this country needs to do better than restore voting rights to people. They need to change these laws regarding records so that people can feed their children. Then someone had the nerve to comment "I dont want a convicted felon voting for laws that will effect my children or grandchildren." Do you know how many people are out there voting that should be convicted felons? i know a few myself. Im sorry but that is inevitable! Give them there rights back and allow them to feed their kids!
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3) Good Run [by Anonymous Citizen on April 11, 2008]
Most states have had harsh laws about not giving former felons their voting rights back at some point in their history. All but Kentucky and Virginia have wised up and changed them because it makes their states fairer, better places to live.

Studies also show that former felons who vote are half as likely as one who don't to commit future crimes. People who feel like they're really part of a society have a lot less reason to act out against that society.

HB 70 is a great bill. It passed overwhelmingly in the House and I think we can take a serious run at passing it in the senate next year.
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4) HB 70 Passes House! [by Anonymous Citizen on April 2, 2008]
(from KFTC's blog at http://www.kftc.org/blog )

House Bill 70 to Restore Voting Rights to Former Felons who have served their debt to society has finally been called up for a vote on the House Floor today and passed with an overwhelming 80 "yes" votes to 14 "no" votes!

We're not at all happy that the House took so very long to act on this bill, giving very little chance for it to get through the Senate, but we're very pleased that the bill did pass by such a wide margin.

The six floor amendments to the bill that KFTC opposed were all defeated, but Rep. Sal Santoro of Boone County, attached an amendment that exempted former felons convicted of manslaughter from the automatic restoration. KFTC opposes this change because we want all former felons to have the same chance to get their rights back.

We now have a tiny window of opportunity to put pressure on the Senate on this issue that could make a big difference whether or not they act on it this year.

Action Alert:

Call the Legislative Message Line at 1-800-372-7181 any time from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m.

Leave a message for "Senate Leadership" (David Williams, Katie Stine, Dan Kelly, Dan Seum, Carroll Gibson) and your own senator.

Message:
"Please support House Bill 70 and expand it to restore voting rights to all former felons."
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5) Poll Tax? [by David Dunn on March 4, 2008]
Doesn't this bill amount to a poll tax?

What about non-violent offenders, especially cannabis users?

The state spends $269 million a year incarcerating substance users. And cannabis is not even a drug. It's a cannabinoid--always has been, always will be. Laws do not change a substances nature.
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6) Comer's Amendment [by Anonymous Citizen on April 2, 2008]
(Responding to David Dunn)

No, no - this isn't a poll tax.

I think you're looking at the unfriendly amendment that Comer tried to put on the bill that would make former felons pay to get their voting rights back. That floor amendment was defeated.
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7) Voting Rights [by Anonymous Citizen on February 25, 2008]
Absolutely - let them vote!

I can't imagine taking someone's voting rights away forever for making a mistake early in life - like writing a bad check or getting caught on a drug charge.

Besides, this bill is about allowing Kentuckians to vote on whether on not to change the constitution to allow former felons voting rights. Who could be against letting Kentucky Voters decide?!
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8) Voting for the most freebies! [by Anonymous Citizen on February 19, 2008]
Once a person is convicted of a felony, there are some rights that shouldn't be restored. This is one of them. I don't want convicted felons making decisions that will affect my children and grandchildren anymore than I would want illegal immigrants making that decision. Studies show they vote for which ever candidate promises the most free handouts, and that is not responsible criteria for voting.
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9) Yes [by Anonymous Citizen on February 19, 2008]
I love the "No Taxation Without Representation" quote below - that's dead-on.

We've all done illegal things, whether we've been caught or not. Hell, if you stacked all of the times I've ever speeded together, they'd put me away for ten lifetimes.

I know a lot of former felons, and I've heard that there are over 100,000 in KY.

These are real people and they've served their time. Let's let them vote.
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10) Great Bill! [by Anonymous Citizen on February 13, 2008]
This looks like a great bill.

Here's some more information.

http://www.KFTC.org/restration
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11) Why? [by Anonymous Citizen on February 6, 2008]
With all the important issues that need to be addressed in this state, why in the world would this Democrat representative be sponsoring legislation for the benefit of convicted felons? Who is this guy representing, law abiding citizens or law breakers? The real answer is that this is legislation aimed at benefiting only the Democrat Party. Studies show that convicted felons overwhelmingly vote for Democrats. Maybe its because these felons don't have jobs and also depend on Democrat legislation to give them free handouts that are paid for by law abiding tax payers. The sponsor of this bill should be replaced immediately for even sponsoring this embarrasing and partison bill.
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12) DUH! [by Anonymous Citizen on June 3, 2008]
Nitwit. What studies. Convicted felons can't vote.
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13) WOW [by Anonymous Citizen on February 11, 2008]
It amazes me how ignorant people are when it comes to understanding the law. Someone can become a convicted felon just for stopping payment on a bad check if the amount is over $300 or more. What about the kid who gets arrested and convicted for drugs while in college or for stealing?? Yes, these are crimes and they are bad; I am in no way condoning bad behavior, but you and everyone else who has made a comment on here has a skeleton(s) or two in the closet. We have all done something that we regret, we have all broken the law, but we just didn't get caught.

I think this bill should pass, BUT I do think careful thought and attention should be given to the offense, the time and circumstances surrounding what led to the person making a poor choice. Everyone keeps saying we hope prison rehabilitates people, but what a slap in the face not being able to find a decent job, or let your voice be heard through voting gets shot down because of mistake you made 5 or more years ago. As for felons voting for Democrats this is true, but it's not because there is a gaurantee of a handout. Let's face it..the majority of the felon population consist of minorites..how many Republican politicians do you see even making an effort to act like they remotely care about minorities...they know they already have the rich, racist, white suburbia in their backpocket. I doubt this bill will come to fruition simply because Kentucky has a reputation as being one of the most backwards and racist states in the U.S. so I wouldn't fret too much about this piece of legislation.
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14) A good guy [by Anonymous Citizen on January 8, 2008]
"Great Bill"
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15) Good one [by Anonymous Citizen on December 18, 2007]
If we let these folks out of prison, are we not saying that they are rehabilitated and have paid their restitution? If that is the case, and we expect them to become good citizens again, how can they do that if they are not given full citizenship?
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16) TAXATION WITH REPRESENTATION [by Anonymous Citizen on September 19, 2007]
I THINK IF A CITZEN OF THE UNITED STATES HAS SERVED THIER TIME SHOULD HAVE VOTER RIGHTS. WE WANT THEM TO BE A RESPECTABLE PERSON IN SOCIETY AND WORK AND PAY TAXES THEY SHOULD HAVE A VOICE IF NOT THAT WOULD BE TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION
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17) No right to vote [by Anonymous Citizen on August 23, 2007]
If a person makes decisions which result in a felony conviction I do not want them deciding at the ballot box my future, my family's future or my state's future.
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18) RIGHTS TO VOTE [by KENTUCKYCOUNTRY on September 14, 2007]
After a person who has any felony records or conviction serves there time , they should have all the same legal rights and freedoms to VOTE as any other american citizen and voter as a legal right to vote has a right to have.
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19) forever? [by newmark on August 23, 2007]
If someone does something stupid when they are 16, and are tried and convicted as an adult, should they be punished for the rest of their lives?

It seems to me that if you make one dumb mistake as a youth, there should be a process to have your rights restored after a period of time.

Everyone makes stupid mistakes when they are young. Some people make bigger mistakes than others. But if it's a property crime, and not a violent crime, why not let them vote after 10 or 20 years?

This bill simply puts the issues to the voters. I think a good discussion on the issue might be something worth while out of Frankfort that doesn't even fleece the taxpayers.
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