Proposed ballot measure would let California parolees vote

Source: Associated Press


Don Thompson, Associated Press
Updated 6:11 pm CST, Monday, January 28, 2019

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Tens of thousands of parolees would be allowed to vote under a state constitutional amendment proposed Monday by California's secretary of state and Democratic lawmakers who called it the next civil rights issue.

The proposal intended for the 2020 ballot would help nearly 50,000 felons who have served their time adjust to being back in the community, said California Secretary of State Alex Padilla and other advocates. Parolees currently are prohibited from registering to vote in local, state or federal elections.

California is one of several states that have or are considering expanding voting rights for felons. The proposal would include murderers, rapists and others convicted of violent crimes. It would not affect criminals until they are released from custody, unlike in some other states.

The proposal continues California's pattern in recent years of reducing sentences and increasing earlier releases from prison, said Christine Ward, executive director of the Crime Victims Action Alliance.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Proposed-ballot-measure-would-let-California-13567915.php