Kentucky governor restores voting rights of most felons

aol/reuters ^ | november 24, 2015

[lowbridge]

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear on Tuesday signed an executive order restoring voting rights to most felons in state in an action that he said will affect some 180,000 people.

Once felons have completed their sentences, including any probation or parole, and have made court-mandated restitution, they will have their rights automatically restored as long as they have no additional cases pending, Beshear said.

Previously, felony offenders needed to apply to the governor's office to have their voting rights restored. Now, Beshear said, the Department of Corrections will make the determination.

"The old system is unfair," Beshear said. "It's counterproductive. We need to be smarter in our criminal justice system. Research shows that ex-felons who vote are less likely to commit new crime and return to prison. That's because if you vote, you tend to be more engaged in society."

The outgoing Democratic governor, speaking to reporters in the state capital, said the order does not cover those convicted of violent, sex-related, bribery or treason crimes.

Kentucky is one of four states that requires its governor to sign off on the restoration of a felon's voting rights.

[Maine Mariner]

Excellent observations! I understand that an executive order of one governor or president can be overturned by his or her successor.

[ex91B10]

Bingo.

[Tau Food]

I am wondering. If a governor commutes the sentence of a prisoner or pardons him, can a subsequent governor reverse that action and return someone to prison if the individual has not been involved in any subsequent misconduct? I doubt that a new governor can do that. Taking away voting rights might raise similar issues.

[Repealthe17thAmendment]

Voting isn't all it's cracked up to be.

It's getting harder and harder to tell the R's from the D's.