Pot times July 17, 2005

Felons Gain Vote, Economic Justice

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1125/a13.html
Newshawk: Beth

Pubdate: Mon, 11 Jul 2005
Source: Des Moines Register (IA)
Copyright: 2005 The Des Moines Register.
Contact: letters@dmreg.com
Website: http://desmoinesregister.com/index.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/123
Author: Kathy Regalado

FELONS GAIN VOTE, ECONOMIC JUSTICE

I picked up the July 4 paper because the headline article titled "Felons Gain Right to Vote" caught my eye, but was stymied by the actual gist of the article.  The article includes criticisms of Gov.  Vilsack's executive order, but seems to have missed the point.

The executive order expands existing voting rights to those felons who have served their sentences but have been unable to pay their restitution and court fees.  The governor's order doesn't excuse payment of restitution and court costs.  It allows those who have paid their debt to society a chance to participate in the process.

Arguments against the executive order center on the possibility that now that felons can vote, they'll forgo their restitution payments.  Somehow it seems unlikely that to date, felons have been prompted to pay because of the right to vote being held over their heads.  This executive order levels the playing field and ends this shadowy corner of discrimination based on economic status.

Kathy Regalado

Bloomington, Minn