PRESS RELEASES

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                              
Contact: Deriece K. Bennett
April 24, 2007                                                           
(410) 841-3185

Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland Protects Right to Vote

The Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland supported Senate Bill 488 entitled, Voter Registration Protection Act, sponsored by Senator Gwendolyn Britt, Secretary of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. SB 488 alters certain qualifications for voter registration and reinstates the right to vote for ex-felons who have served their time to society by completing court-ordered sentencing.

Current law states that an individual is not qualified to register to vote if s/he has been convicted of a felony and is actually serving a court-ordered sentence. In addition, this law disenfranchises twice-convicted felons through permanent loss of the right to vote unless they are pardoned.

According to Senator Britt, African Americans are disproportionately convicted and incarcerated for crimes in the State of Maryland and “current law now imposes disproportionate disenfranchisement on African Americans and totally dilutes the process of reform and inclusion.”

Proposed language of the bill states “An individual is not qualified to be a registered voter if the individual: has been convicted of: A FELONY AND IS ACTUALLY SERVING A COURT-ORDERED SENTENCE OF IMPRISONMENT, INCLUDING ANY TERM OF PAROLE OR PROBATION FOR THE CONVICTION....”

This language makes it possible for ex-felons to become voting members of society after having served their court ordered sentence.

This bill will be enacted on July 1st, 2007.

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