Attorney General Eric Holder: ‘restore voting rights to former felons’
During his speech at Georgetown University Law Center, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that people with past felony convictions should have their voting rights restored.
Currently the majority of ex-felons do not have the right to vote, despite serving time for crimes committed in the past.
“It is time to fundamentally rethink laws that permanently disenfranchise people who are no longer under federal or state supervision,” Holder was to say in prepared remarks. “These restrictions are not only unnecessary and unjust, they are also counterproductive. By perpetuating the stigma and isolation imposed on formerly incarcerated individuals, these laws increase the likelihood they will commit future crimes.”
Currently, 11 states bar people with felony convictions from voting after being released from prison. Three states, Florida, Virginia and Kentucky have permanent felony bans on voting pending a successful appeal to the governor.
Holder was speaking at an event sponsored by The Leadership Conference Education Fund and theVera Institute of Justice. The event was meant to be a hub for bipartisan discussion about ongoing criminal justice reforms.
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