Bill simplifies restoring right to vote

By Richard Locker

May 18, 2006

NASHVILLE -- The Tennessee Senate gave final legislative approval Wednesday to a bill streamlining restoration of voting rights to convicted felons who have completed their sentences.

Supporters said the measure will end Tennessee's confusing patchwork law, with its varying requirements for ex-felons depending on when their conviction occurred, and the crimes for which they were convicted.

For example, most must petition Circuit Court for restoration while some have automatic restoration.

Gov. Phil Bredesen has signaled no opposition to the bill and is expected to let it become law.

Sponsored by Memphis Democrats Sen. Steve Cohen and Rep. Larry Turner, the bill removes the courts from the process and creates a single, uniform procedure. It requires ex-felons who want to vote to get a "certificate of restoration" from the state agency with final authority over the completion of their sentences -- generally the Department of Correction or the Board of Probation and Parole.

The certificates are presented to local election commissions, which register the ex-felons to vote after verifying the petitions and other eligibility requirements.

The Senate, which first approved the bill last year, sent it to the governor by concurring in three amendments added by the House when it approved the bill last week. One amendment makes ineligible those convicted of murder, voter fraud, treason, aggravated rape and any sex offense whose victim was a minor.

Two others require ex-felons to be current in any child-support obligations to be eligible and set July 1 as the law's effective date.

Cohen commended the Senate for not dividing by party over the bill. He specifically thanked Republican Sen. David Fowler of Chattanooga for his work on it.

The Tennessee Right to Vote Campaign, a coalition led by the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, the Catholic Public Policy Commission and the state AFL-CIO Labor Council, backed the bill.

"Current felony disfranchisement laws are so confusing that men and women who qualify to vote probably do not know it," said Hedy Weinberg, director of Tennessee ACLU. "Passage of this bill is an important first step in streamlining the process and ensuring that a citizen not only understands the process but can have his or her most sacred democratic right restored."

The differing requirements of current law contributed to the voting problems that surfaced in Shelby County last year.