Restoration of Voting Rights

State Senator Steve Cohen sponsored the streamlining of most ex-felons in Tennessee regaining their right to vote, an important step for many in going straight. The amendment about no restoration if behind on child support was accepted by the House sponsors against the wishes of Cohen, who believes voting is a fundamental right; but it was late in the session, with an important election looming. The ACLU's statewide tour will explain the new procedures. See an exposition of this Tennessee law topic in my earlier post, "John Harvey for Sheriff?"

UPDATE: I went to the ACLU presentation with my trusty cellphone camera and offer these pics and links:

People I recognize in this one: lower left, Teresa Jones, Chief (City of Memphis) Prosecutor and local coordinator of the National Bar Association's Continuing Legal Education programs; lower right, representative from the League of Women Voters, who had a voter registration table at the event; in the blue shirt behind her, John Fowlkes, Chief Administrative Officer of Shelby County; and upper right, Dedrick Brittenum, Memphis City Councilman.

State Senator Steve Cohen and James H. Johnson, Shelby County Administrator of Elections, two of the presenters at the ACLU event.

Steve Mulroy, newly elected Shelby County Commissioner, and David Cocke, former chairman of the Shelby County Democratic Party.

Blogger is not accepting any more pictures right now, so here are the promised links:

ACLU of TN home page

"Get Your Right to Vote Back" Town Meetings

Get Your Right to Vote Back: A How-To Brochure For Former Felons in Tennessee (115 KB)

Tennessee Legislature Simplifies Voting Restoration for Ex-Felons

ACLU ex-offenders page

Democracy's Ghosts - a film about disenfranchisement