Lawsuit Claims Ohio Denies Ex-Prisoners' Right To Vote

Ohio elections officials have improperly told convicted felons no longer incarcerated that they cannot vote, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday by activists. Ohio law requires local boards of election to cancel the voting registration of those convicted of felonies. But another state law says the voting rights of convicted felons must be restored if they are no longer incarcerated, according to the lawsuit filed by two advocacy organizations representing prisoners, ex-offenders and their families. "Convicted felons who are on probation, parole or post-release control are not required to complete probation, parole or post-release control before registering to vote," the lawsuit said. It claims that county boards of election across Ohio have been giving out erroneous information that has led some released felons to believe that they are barred from voting. It alleges that Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, Ohio's chief elections officer, has been aware of this confusion but has failed to take steps to ensure that all 88 county boards of election comply with Ohio's felon re-enfranchisement law. [more ]

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