Reply #10: TN: ACLU spreads word about felon voting rights [View All]

[rumpel]

The City Paper Online

By Christine Buttorff, News Correspondent
September 01, 2006

With November’s general election rapidly approaching, several groups are trying to get the word out across the state that a new law passed this year in the state legislature makes it a little easier for former felons to regain their right to vote.

Davidson County Election Administrator Ray Barrett, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Tennessee, the NAACP and a former felon were at an informational meeting Thursday night at the Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church.

“Tennessee had this patchwork of laws that depending on when you were convicted and what you were convicted for, it would then determine how you could register,” said Hedy Weinberg, Executive Director of the ACLU Tennessee.

Once an individual has served their sentence and completed parole, the new law requires only a certificate of restoration, which has to be filled out by a parole officer or a court clerk, and a completed voter registration form. Those are turned into the county election commission, which sends them to the state commission for verification.

Previously, former felons would often have to hire a lawyer and go to court to have their voting rights restored. State and local prosecutors could then challenge those requests.

http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section_id=9&screen=news&news_id=51888