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A6 U.S. NEWS
Friday 13 december 2019

)Kentucky restores voting rights to nonviolent felons

By BRUCE SCHREINER nearly one in 10 Kentuck- was Rynn Young, who has Young said in the 21 years Network, described Bes-
Associated Press ians and nearly one in four never voted due to his drug since his conviction, he hear’s action as a “crucial
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Pro- African-Americans current- conviction as an 18 year has been judged by mis- day for democracy in our
fessing his belief in redemp- commonwealth.” His group
tion, Kentucky Gov. Andy will work on the follow-up
Beshear signed an execu- phase — getting the af-
tive order Thursday to re- fected people registered
store voting rights for more to vote.
than 140,000 nonviolent The order applies to nonvi-
offenders who have com- olent felons who complet-
pleted their sentences. ed their sentences, includ-
The new Democratic gov- ing probation or parole,
ernor was surrounded by Beshear said. It also grants
voting-rights supporters in voting rights to those who
the state Capitol Rotunda have served their sentenc-
as he signed the order on es but still owe fees or fines
his third day in office, fulfill- — a factor that some states
ing a campaign pledge. have used to deny voting
The state’s former attorney rights. The action does not
general noted his previous relieve them of obligations
work to prosecute wrong- to pay court-ordered resti-
doers, but added: “I also tution or fines.
believe in redemption, in “You can still owe money
second chances. ... My and you have your vot-
faith teaches me forgive- ing rights restored today,”
ness.” Beshear told reporters.
“I believe we have a mor- Kentucky Democratic Governor Andy Beshear signs an executive order to reinstate the voting “There are other ways to
al responsibility to protect make sure that that money
and extend the right to rights of over 100,000 non-violent felons who have completed their sentences, at the Capitol in is paid. We don’t want to
vote, and to say to so many Frankfort, Ky., Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. hold back voting rights just
who have paid their debt Associated Press because someone doesn’t
that we welcome them have the same bank ac-
as full members of society ly not allowed to vote, Bes- old in the late 1990s. The takes he made as a teen- count as somebody else.”
again,” he said. hear said. His order seeks to Louisville man now works ager. “Today, a day that The next step in carrying
Kentucky has one of the substantially reduce that as a sales representative I thought I’d never see . out the order is to provide
country’s highest voter dis- disenfranchisement rate. and has twin 21-month-old ... Gov. Beshear gave me the necessary verification
enfranchisement rates, with Among those celebrating daughters. back my equality as an information to the state’s
American.” election officials who reg-
“I just appreciate the op- ister voters, the governor
portunity for a second said.
chance, just to be heard,” “Our job is to make that
he said. seamless,” he said. “To
Amanda Bourland also lost make sure that anyone can
her right to vote due to walk into any of the elec-
drug and other offenses as tion officials’ offices and be
an 18 year old. Now in her able to register right then,
mid-40s, the Louisville wom- right there. Now that’s go-
an has four sons, works and ing to take a little bit of
is pursuing a master’s de- time, and we ask people to
gree. She said she has an- bear with us.”
guished over her inability to The process will be com-
vote. pleted long before the
“I have tried and tried to next election, he said.
be heard at the polls and Crimes excluded from the
I have been told ‘no,’” she executive order include
said. “I was told 13 years treason, election bribery
ago that if I kept doing the and violence offenses —
next right thing, the next including all rapes and sex-
right thing would happen.” ual abuse, homicide, fetal
She then told Beshear: homicide and first- and
“Thank you so much for second-degree assault,
making the next right thing according to Beshear’s of-
happen, because now my fice.
voice matters.” Beshear said he supports
She promised not to take making his executive or-
voting for granted, saying: der permanent by adding
“Every election, I will be its provisions to the state
there.” Constitution. Such a mea-
The Rev. L. Clark Williams, sure would have to win ap-
chairman of The People’s proval from lawmakers and
Campaign Community Kentucky voters.q