ACLU sues over state’s voting restoration act

[Chris_]

ACLU sues over state’s voting restoration act

The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee filed a lawsuit in federal court Monday alleging that a state law requiring criminals to pay their outstanding legal obligations before having their voting rights restored is “tantamount to a poll tax.”

From the ACLU press release:

NASHVILLE – The American Civil Liberties Union  of Tennessee (ACLU-TN), joined by the national ACLU Voting Rights Project, filed a lawsuit today in federal court challenging the state’s 2006 law that made the restoration of voting rights for people convicted of crimes contingent on the payment of all outstanding legal financial obligations (LFOs), namely restitution and child support fees. According to the ACLU’s lawsuit, requiring some individuals to bear an undue financial burden before voting is tantamount to a poll tax in violation of the constitutional right to vote and the Fourteenth Amendment’s equal protection clause.
 
“The legal financial obligations provision creates an undue burden on the voting rights of the economically disadvantaged,” said ACLU-TN Cooperating Attorney Charles Grant, of Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz. “Although not intended, these provisions harken back to a time when Blacks, the poor and other marginalized groups were required to pay poll taxes for the privilege to vote.  We are hopeful the court will protect the rights of all Tennessee voters, not just the ones who can afford to buy back their franchise.”
 
 Today’s legal action, filed against state and county officials, challenges a 2006 law that changed the process by which individuals with criminal convictions may seek the restoration of their voting rights.  According to the law, “a person shall not be eligible to apply for a voter registration card and have the right of suffrage restored unless such person has paid all restitution to the victim or victims of the offense ordered by the court as part of the sentence…[and] unless such person is current in all child support obligations.”
 
The ACLU brought its lawsuit on behalf of three individuals – Terence Johnson, Jim Harris and Alexander Friedman – who have completed their terms of imprisonment, parole, and probation for their offenses. Johnson and Harris are ineligible to vote because they owe child support for children they currently have custody of.  Friedman applied for restoration of his voting rights in 2006, but Tennessee denied his application, claiming that he owes over 1,000 dollars in restitution.

IMO, felons should lose the right to vote permanently.  If lawmakers insist on giving it back. the criminals must complete their sentences...including any costs involved.  Idiots.

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