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

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Introduced by Rep. Jesse Crenshaw (D) 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 (R) 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 (R) 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 (R) 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 (R) 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 (R) 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 (R) 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.

Most Recent Comments

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) DUH! [by Anonymous Citizen on June 3, 2008]
Nitwit. What studies. Convicted felons can't vote.
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