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MD: Felon voting rights bill OK'd by Senate
Submitted by Deb on Sat, 03/24/2007 - 12:55pm.
Measure to ease restrictions has stirred heated debate, now moves to House
The Associated Press
March 23, 2007, 3:15 PM EDT
ANNAPOLIS -- Legislation allowing more former felons to register to vote moved closer to final approval today.
The current law prohibits people convicted of multiple felonies from voting for three years after completing their sentences. People with multiple violent felony convictions can't vote at all.
A bill approved by the Senate 28-19 today would repeal the three-year waiting period and also allow repeat violent felons to seek the vote once they have served their sentences.
Supporters said the measure is needed to help former offenders become productive citizens. Some of the qualifying felonies are as minor as food stamp fraud.
Opponents argued that the people convicted of the most serious felonies should never be allowed to vote.
"I think the world is upside-down that we're debating this," said Democratic Sen. James Brochin of Baltimore County.
The bill's supporters argued that multiple murderers and rapists are unlikely to get out of prison.
"Some of the most heinous crimes, you're not likely to ever be out to vote," said Sen. Roy Dyson, a St. Mary's County Democrat.
The measure now heads to the House.
Copyright © 2007, The Associated Press
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