This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/some-ex-offenders-now-have-the-chance-to-vote--for-liars-and-con-men/2016/03/01/a5b9a3c2-dfdc-11e5-846c-10191d1fc4ec_story.html
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Some ex-offenders now have the chance to vote — for ‘liars’ and ‘con artists’ | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| For ex-offenders who have successfully fought to have their voting rights restored in recent months, the presidential primaries were their first chance to go to the polls in years, even decades. And what a special welcome back it must have been for them to choose from a slate of candidates who have often exhibited the kind of behavior that many were warned about when they were given a second chance. | For ex-offenders who have successfully fought to have their voting rights restored in recent months, the presidential primaries were their first chance to go to the polls in years, even decades. And what a special welcome back it must have been for them to choose from a slate of candidates who have often exhibited the kind of behavior that many were warned about when they were given a second chance. |
| One of those who expected to start voting again in the Super Tuesday presidential primary was Je’Marc Morton, a warehouse employee in Williamsburg, Va. His voting rights were revoked for seven years after his conviction for grand larceny in 2008. His sentence for the larceny was five years’ probation. | One of those who expected to start voting again in the Super Tuesday presidential primary was Je’Marc Morton, a warehouse employee in Williamsburg, Va. His voting rights were revoked for seven years after his conviction for grand larceny in 2008. His sentence for the larceny was five years’ probation. |
| Morton successfully petitioned to get back his right to vote last year. Now he was able to vote in a presidential primary — to choose among candidates variously described by one another as liars, con artists, hypocrites, wackos, frauds, cheats and thieves. | Morton successfully petitioned to get back his right to vote last year. Now he was able to vote in a presidential primary — to choose among candidates variously described by one another as liars, con artists, hypocrites, wackos, frauds, cheats and thieves. |
| And to think that millions of people have been permanently disenfranchised — even after completing their sentences — because politicians like some of those running for president say ex-offenders do not have the “judgment” or “trustworthiness” to cast a ballot. | And to think that millions of people have been permanently disenfranchised — even after completing their sentences — because politicians like some of those running for president say ex-offenders do not have the “judgment” or “trustworthiness” to cast a ballot. |
| “I’ve heard bits and pieces of the campaigns, candidates being called things like ‘crooks’ and ‘stupid,’ ” said Morton, 28. It’s been a dispiriting campaign, to say the least. “I celebrated when I received a certificate saying my voting rights had been restored. But I just haven’t decided what to do.” | “I’ve heard bits and pieces of the campaigns, candidates being called things like ‘crooks’ and ‘stupid,’ ” said Morton, 28. It’s been a dispiriting campaign, to say the least. “I celebrated when I received a certificate saying my voting rights had been restored. But I just haven’t decided what to do.” |
| Just vote, that’s what he ought to do. | Just vote, that’s what he ought to do. |
| Get back into the habit of participating in the political life of the nation. These voting-rights-revocation laws, which proliferated after the Civil War, were designed to do nothing more than keep black people away from the polls. However, as often happens, poor and working-class white people began getting caught up in the traps that were laid for black people. | Get back into the habit of participating in the political life of the nation. These voting-rights-revocation laws, which proliferated after the Civil War, were designed to do nothing more than keep black people away from the polls. However, as often happens, poor and working-class white people began getting caught up in the traps that were laid for black people. |
| As Paul Berendt, then the Washington state Democratic Party chairman, told the Seattle Times back in 2005: | As Paul Berendt, then the Washington state Democratic Party chairman, told the Seattle Times back in 2005: |
| “We know for a fact that nonunion, blue-collar, Caucasian men vote very disproportionately Republican, and when you look at the felon population in the state of Washington, they are overwhelmingly nonunion, blue-collar, male Caucasians.” | “We know for a fact that nonunion, blue-collar, Caucasian men vote very disproportionately Republican, and when you look at the felon population in the state of Washington, they are overwhelmingly nonunion, blue-collar, male Caucasians.” |
| The result has been a budding bipartisan effort to reform these draconian restrictions on voting rights. | The result has been a budding bipartisan effort to reform these draconian restrictions on voting rights. |
| Today, there are an estimated 5 million Americans who have lost the right to vote because of felony convictions. Virginia, as it turns out, is one of the states doing the most to remedy the injustice, with Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) continuing reforms started under his predecessor, Robert F. McDonnell (R). | Today, there are an estimated 5 million Americans who have lost the right to vote because of felony convictions. Virginia, as it turns out, is one of the states doing the most to remedy the injustice, with Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) continuing reforms started under his predecessor, Robert F. McDonnell (R). |
| Nevertheless, Virginia still has one of the highest rates of disenfranchisement in the country. According to the Virginia ACLU, an estimated 450,000 Virginians are barred from voting for the rest of their lives because of a felony conviction — nearly 7 percent of the state’s population. | Nevertheless, Virginia still has one of the highest rates of disenfranchisement in the country. According to the Virginia ACLU, an estimated 450,000 Virginians are barred from voting for the rest of their lives because of a felony conviction — nearly 7 percent of the state’s population. |
| That includes 1 in 4 African American men in Virginia permanently banned from voting, and 20 percent of black people in the state, the ACLU says. The numbers would be even higher if McAuliffe hadn’t made policy changes that have helped people with certain drug convictions get their voting rights restored sooner and removed the requirement that people pay court fines and fees before applying for restoration. | That includes 1 in 4 African American men in Virginia permanently banned from voting, and 20 percent of black people in the state, the ACLU says. The numbers would be even higher if McAuliffe hadn’t made policy changes that have helped people with certain drug convictions get their voting rights restored sooner and removed the requirement that people pay court fines and fees before applying for restoration. |
| Black people make up 45 percent of those arrested for drug offenses in Virginia, even though they are only 19.7 percent of the state’s population — and despite evidence showing that white people use illegal drugs at higher rates than black people, according to the ACLU. | Black people make up 45 percent of those arrested for drug offenses in Virginia, even though they are only 19.7 percent of the state’s population — and despite evidence showing that white people use illegal drugs at higher rates than black people, according to the ACLU. |
| Such systemic racial disparity could understandably lead to despair and cynicism among black ex-offenders. Why even participate in a political process that undergirds obvious injustice? | Such systemic racial disparity could understandably lead to despair and cynicism among black ex-offenders. Why even participate in a political process that undergirds obvious injustice? |
| Because voting is the best remedy, no matter how imperfect. | Because voting is the best remedy, no matter how imperfect. |
| “The real push now should be for people to find out if they are eligible to have their voting rights restored and get it done in time for the November elections,” said Rebecca Green, a law professor and co-director of William & Mary Law School’s Election Law Program. | “The real push now should be for people to find out if they are eligible to have their voting rights restored and get it done in time for the November elections,” said Rebecca Green, a law professor and co-director of William & Mary Law School’s Election Law Program. |
| “It takes a few months to go through the process, so they need to start now,” said Green, who also helps run a project for disenfranchised Virginia residents called Revive My Vote. “At least in Virginia, there’s never been a better time to apply to get your rights back.” | “It takes a few months to go through the process, so they need to start now,” said Green, who also helps run a project for disenfranchised Virginia residents called Revive My Vote. “At least in Virginia, there’s never been a better time to apply to get your rights back.” |
| And when ex-offenders do succeed in getting their rights, they need to use them. Hopefully, Morton exercised his and voted — if only for the candidate who lies the least. | And when ex-offenders do succeed in getting their rights, they need to use them. Hopefully, Morton exercised his and voted — if only for the candidate who lies the least. |
| To read previous columns, go to washingtonpost.com/milloy. | To read previous columns, go to washingtonpost.com/milloy. |