Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Alabama State Court Boosts Voting Rights for Felons and Ex-Felons

Ballot Access News

August 23rd, 2006 ballot access news

On August 23, a state court in Alabama ruled that the state's laws
preventing felons and ex-felons from registering to vote cannot be
enforced, until the state legislature passes a law explaining the term
"moral turpitude". The State Constitution does not permit those
convicted of a crime of "moral turpitude" to register. The Court ruled
that the phrase is far too vague, and violates due process, unless or
until the legislature passes a law defining which felonies are
included in that term. Gooden v Worley, 2005-5778, Jefferson Co.
Circuit Court.
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This is FABULOUS NEWS!!!

1 comment:

Loretta Nall said...

Point taken....however I think the most important part is that many thousands of people in Alabama will be able to vote in this upcoming election.

I worry about the sex crime legislation too. I know a guy who has a sex offender rap because he opened a topless club in the wrong zoning area. I know stories of homeless men in BHAM getting a sex offender rap for peeing in alleyways...because there are no portable/public toilets available. Charged with indecent exposure.

We'll cross the legislative bridge when we get to it and it will be a long, treacherous one.