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Disenfranchisement

All articles tagged with #disenfranchisement

politics2 years ago

Governor's Discretion in Voting Rights Faces Legal Challenges

Lawsuits have been filed in Virginia and Kentucky challenging the authority of governors to deny voting rights to former prisoners, arguing that it violates the First Amendment. In Virginia, Governor Glenn Youngkin has twice denied the request of George Hawkins, who completed a 13-year prison term, to restore his voting rights. The lawsuit claims that the federal Constitution limits the governor's power and calls for the establishment of rules governing decisions on voting rights restoration. Similar concerns are raised in Kentucky, where a lawsuit challenges Governor Andy Beshear's decision to exclude certain former prisoners from automatic restoration. The outcome of these lawsuits could have significant implications for voting rights in these states.

via The New York Times|
#disenfranchisement#first-amendment#governors
legal2 years ago

Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down Mississippi's Lifetime Voting Ban for Convicts

A federal appeals court has ruled that Mississippi cannot strip the right to vote from convicts after they complete their sentences, deeming it a "cruel and unusual punishment" that disproportionately affects Black people. The court faulted a provision in Mississippi's state constitution that mandates lifetime disenfranchisement for certain crimes, stating that it violates the Eighth Amendment. The provision, adopted in 1890, was found to have a racially discriminatory aim. The ruling is seen as a major victory for those who have completed their sentences and deserve to participate fully in the political process. The decision is expected to be appealed.

via NBC News|
#convicts#disenfranchisement#federal-appeals-court
politics2 years ago

Federal Appeals Court Overturns Mississippi's Lifetime Voting Ban for Felony Convictions

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has struck down Mississippi's lifetime voting ban for individuals with felony convictions, ruling it as unconstitutional and a "cruel and unusual punishment." The ban, derived from the state's 1890 constitution, disproportionately affected Black Mississippians. The court's decision will restore the voting rights of tens of thousands of Mississippians who were previously disenfranchised. The ruling stated that the ban serves no protective function to society and denies a precious right to a large class of citizens.

via ABC News|
#disenfranchisement#felony-convictions#fifth-circuit
politics2 years ago

"Challenges Mount for Formerly Imprisoned Voters in Tennessee"

Tennessee has further restricted the restoration of voting rights for individuals with past felony convictions, joining a growing list of Republican-controlled states that have limited access to the ballot for former felons. Previously, most people with completed felony sentences could restore their voting rights through an administrative process, but only a small fraction have been successful. The new policy now requires formerly incarcerated individuals to obtain clemency from the governor's office or have their citizenship rights restored by a circuit court judge. Tennessee already had one of the lowest voter turnout rates and the second-highest number of disenfranchised residents due to felony convictions in the nation. This decision puts Tennessee in the same category as Virginia and Mississippi, where restoring voting rights is at the discretion of officials.

via The New York Times|
#disenfranchisement#felony-convictions#politics
civil-rights2 years ago

Supreme Court Upholds Jim Crow Voting Law, Denies Appeals

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal challenging Mississippi's Jim Crow-era voting law that disproportionately disenfranchises Black residents. The law, adopted in 1890, designates certain crimes believed to be committed more by Black people as lifelong disenfranchising crimes. The court's refusal to take the case has been criticized, with dissenting Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson recounting the law's history and calling for legislative action to repeal it. Mississippi's 1890 Constitution aimed to eliminate Black voting power and was followed by other southern states with their own Jim Crow constitutions. The court's decision comes a day after ruling affirmative action for race-conscious college admissions as unconstitutional.

via Mississippi Free Press|
#civil-rights#disenfranchisement#jim-crow