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This man is on parole. On Thursday, he registered to vote. This man is on parole. On Thursday, he registered to vote.
(35 minutes later)
Gregory Carpenter served 20 years in prison for armed robbery. He’s been out for 21 years. He’s gotten married, raised a family, bought a home — all the things he teaches other ex-offenders at his nonprofit to do to turn their lives around. Gregory Carpenter served 20 years in prison for armed robbery. He’s been out for 21 years. He’s gotten married, raised a family, bought a home — all the things he teaches other ex-offenders at his nonprofit to do to turn their lives around.
But, he admits, he has never felt whole. That’s because Carpenter, 62, is on parole, a stipulation under Maryland law that made him ineligible to vote.But, he admits, he has never felt whole. That’s because Carpenter, 62, is on parole, a stipulation under Maryland law that made him ineligible to vote.
Until Thursday, when a new law took effect that allows felons who are on probation or parole to participate in the electoral process.Until Thursday, when a new law took effect that allows felons who are on probation or parole to participate in the electoral process.
Carpenter was among more than a dozen ex-offenders who completed voter-registration paperwork outside the Baltimore City Board of Elections office. Many, including Carpenter, said they were registering for the first time in their lives.Carpenter was among more than a dozen ex-offenders who completed voter-registration paperwork outside the Baltimore City Board of Elections office. Many, including Carpenter, said they were registering for the first time in their lives.
“It’s a sweet and liberating moment,” Carpenter said.“It’s a sweet and liberating moment,” Carpenter said.
After a divisive battle with Gov. Larry Hogan (R), the General Assembly voted last month to override the governor’s veto of its 2015 voting-rights bill.After a divisive battle with Gov. Larry Hogan (R), the General Assembly voted last month to override the governor’s veto of its 2015 voting-rights bill.
Hogan had argued that felons should only be able to vote after they have finished parole and probation. Members of the General Assembly who supported the override said restoring voting rights was part of helping ex-offenders become full citizens.Hogan had argued that felons should only be able to vote after they have finished parole and probation. Members of the General Assembly who supported the override said restoring voting rights was part of helping ex-offenders become full citizens.
[Maryland Senate overrides Hogan’s veto of felon voting-rights bill][Maryland Senate overrides Hogan’s veto of felon voting-rights bill]
Tessa Hill-Aston, the president of the Baltimore City branch of the NAACP, cheered as Carpenter turned in his form. Hill-Aston said she has worked with Carpenter and knew he was an ex-offender, but was not aware that he was still on parole.Tessa Hill-Aston, the president of the Baltimore City branch of the NAACP, cheered as Carpenter turned in his form. Hill-Aston said she has worked with Carpenter and knew he was an ex-offender, but was not aware that he was still on parole.
“I just get chills,” Hill-Aston said as she watched Carpenter and others walk away from the Board of Elections counter. “This is such a good thing.”“I just get chills,” Hill-Aston said as she watched Carpenter and others walk away from the Board of Elections counter. “This is such a good thing.”
The felons, most of them middle-aged black men, held a rally outside the Board of Elections office urging others with a criminal history to register to vote. They were joined by advocates and supporters.The felons, most of them middle-aged black men, held a rally outside the Board of Elections office urging others with a criminal history to register to vote. They were joined by advocates and supporters.
“People need to know, if you’re out of prison, you can vote,” said Perry Hopkins, an organizer with Communities United, a grassroots organization that led the campaign to restore the voting rights. “People need to know, if you’re out of prison, you can vote,” said Perry Hopkins, an organizer with Communities United, a grass-roots organization that led the campaign to restore the voting rights.
As a result of the legislation, about 44,000 former prisoners on parole or probation are newly eligible to register to vote. Nearly half of those people live in Baltimore, where a recent Baltimore Sun poll shows Sen. Catherine Pugh (D-Baltimore) and former mayor Sheila Dixon (D) essentially tied atop a crowded field of mayoral hopefuls. As a result of the legislation, about 44,000 former prisoners on parole or probation are newly eligible to register to vote. Nearly half of those people live in Baltimore, where a recent Baltimore Sun poll indicated Sen. Catherine E. Pugh (D-Baltimore) and former mayor Sheila Dixon (D) essentially tied atop a crowded field of mayoral hopefuls.
With less than seven weeks before the April 26 primary, Hopkins said the 20,000 potential new voters could be pivotal in deciding who leads the city. “With so many candidates in this race, we have enough votes in this election. . . to affect the outcome,” he said. With less than seven weeks before the April 26 primary, Hopkins said the 20,000 potential new voters could be pivotal in deciding who leads the city. “With so many candidates in this race, we have enough votes in this election . . . to affect the outcome,” he said.
As each person turned in their form, the clerk said: “Thank you, your card will come in the mail.”As each person turned in their form, the clerk said: “Thank you, your card will come in the mail.”
It can’t come soon enough for Carpenter. He plans to do early voting. Maybe even an absentee ballot, he said.It can’t come soon enough for Carpenter. He plans to do early voting. Maybe even an absentee ballot, he said.
He said the “thrill or victory” for him is not walking into a polling place on Election Day.He said the “thrill or victory” for him is not walking into a polling place on Election Day.
Instead, he said, it is in knowing that he doesn’t have to live vicariously through his family members as they make their voices heard at the ballot box. Instead, he said, it is in knowing that he does not have to live vicariously through his family members as they make their voices heard at the ballot box.