Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear announced an executive order Tuesday that will automatically restore the right to vote and hold public office to certain felons who have completely served their criminal sentences.
Beshear, a Democrat, said the order does not include those convicted of violent crimes, sex crimes, bribery or treason.
The restoration of voting rights does Not include persons convicted of violent or sex crimes, bribery or treason. #votingrights
— Steve Beshear (@Steve__Beshear) November 24, 2015
I’ve signed an EO that automatically restores the right to vote & hold public office to certain offenders who’ve served out their sentences
— Steve Beshear (@Steve__Beshear) November 24, 2015
An estimated 180,000 Kentuckians have served out their sentence but lack the right to vote. Today that changes. #votingrights
— Steve Beshear (@Steve__Beshear) November 24, 2015
Thousands of people are living, working & paying taxes in Kentucky but are denied the basic right to vote–something intrinsically American.
— Steve Beshear (@Steve__Beshear) November 24, 2015
Upon release, felons that meet the criteria will be granted a certificate showing their rights have been restored. Those who have already left jail and completed their sentence will have to submit a form. Even those felons who do not meet the criteria can still attempt to apply for their rights to be restored through the governor’s office.
“The right to vote is one of the most intrinsically American privileges, and thousands of Kentuckians are living, working and paying taxes in the state but are denied this basic right,” the outgoing governor said in a press conference Tuesday. “Once an individual has served his or her time and paid all restitution, society expects them to reintegrate into their communities and become law-abiding and productive citizens. A key part of that transition is the right to vote.”
Kentucky, along with Florida and Iowa, is one of three states where ex-felons cannot vote unless the governor personally restores their rights.
According to estimates, roughly 140,000 Kentuckians will be immediately eligible to have their rights restored and another 30,000 will be over time.
“Today’s order will offer a second chance to hundreds of thousands of Kentucky citizens, some of whom have waited decades for the chance to get their right to vote back,” Myrna Pérez, director of the Voting Rights & Elections Project at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, said in a statement. “Americans from all walks of life know that our criminal justice system is broken. Governor Beshear’s leadership is a move in the right direction.”
