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Alabama GOP Stops Prison Voter Registration
September 23, 2008

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News Summary

Prison inmates have the right to vote under Alabama law, but the right to distribute absentee ballots on prison property is being challenged by state GOP officials, the Associated Press reported Sept. 19.

Pressured by the state's Republican Party, Alabama prison commissioner Richard Allen agreed to stop a voter registration drive in state prisons, citing state law that makes it illegal to use state-owned property to promote or advance candidates for election.

"While it is not clear that assisting voters to register would violate those provisions, I cannot expose departmental employees to that possibility," Allen said.

A coalition led by Rev. Kenneth Glasgow had been delivering absentee ballots to prisoners in state jails. Alabama inmates convicted of misdemeanors offenses and certain felonies not considered crimes of "moral turpitude" are allowed to vote using absentee ballots. Glasgow focused on registering prisoners convicted only of drug possession.

In a letter sent to the commissioner, Alabama Republican Party chairman Mike Hubbard, who opposes voting rights for inmates, said that delivering absentee ballots to prisoners was unnecessary. "I have concerns about potential issues with how this effort is being monitored to ensure no form of voter fraud occurs," he added.

Glasgow said he would continue the registration drive. "How can the people who are supposed to be upholding the law break the law?" he said. "I think they're more worried about me being a Democrat than anything. The chairman of the Republican Party and the chairman of the Democratic Party can go in there with me and monitor it to make sure it's nonpartisan."

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Posted by Allen McQuarrie on 24 Sep 08 12:54 PM EDT
An effort was made to ask the Bucks County Pa. Prison Board to allow non-partisan registration of eligible felons, misdemeanants and those awaiting trial. According to a document issued by the Pa. Secretary of State as instructed by Governor Rendell, inmates have the right to register and vote under stipulations noted. The motion to fulfill the voter information effort on behalf of inmates using approved non-partisan volunteers to administer the program died for lack of a second. Instead, a notice will be posted on bulletin boards. Voters typically have questions about voter registration that bulletin boards cannot answer. And, bulletin boards are the most passive of passive ways to notify those who are eligible. Many citizens in Pennsylvania erroneously believe a criminal record is a bar to voter registration and voting. The denial to allow approved volunteers to register those who are due to be released before election day is an inappropriate way to begin changing that belief and encouraging voter participation.

Posted by westy42 on 24 Sep 08 10:20 AM EDT
Could racism be a motivation here? In 2000, Alabama’s prison population was about 57% black.

Posted by Bernie Ellis on 24 Sep 08 09:05 AM EDT
With fewer than 30% of Americans willing to admit they are Republicans, this party continues their full-court press to suppress voting nationwide. From improperly purging voting rolls to demanding IDs from 80 to 90 year old nuns to breaking Alabama's voting laws, there seems to be nothing Repubs won't do to deny the franchise to American voters. And if they aren't successful with voter suppression, they simply steal elections. Every Join Together member should watch "Uncounted: The New Math of American Elections" and "Stealing America: Vote by Vote", both of which are available on DVD. Prepare to be afraid -- very afraid -- for the sanctity and security of our democratic processes and traditions. Forget about parity or more funding for substance abuse prevention and treatment services. If we cannot rid ourselves of these un-American election thieves, we'll only have money for body bags and (more) bailouts. My apologies to any honorable Repubs on this board -- you have much work to do to rescue the party of Lincoln from the death grip of people who govern and campaign like the Confederacy won the Civil War.

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