A Matter of Justice

Louisville Courier Journal Editorial

Kentucky voters may yet get a chance to consider a constitutional amendment that would restore voting rights to certain categories of felons, once they've served their time.

But the possibility of that happening in 2008 looks slim indeed. Earlier this year, a proposal to restore felons' voting rights passed the state House, then died without a vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Fortunately, Rep. Darryl Owens, D-Louisville, who sponsored House Bill 70 along with Rep. Jesse Crenshaw, D-Lexington, is determined to keep hope alive. He believes the proposal can muster the three-fifths majority needed in both houses of the legislature to put it on the ballot.

However, as The Courier-Journal's Joseph Gerth reported the other day, getting the job done isn't going to be easy.

For one thing, there will be the expected resistance from a gaggle of Frankfort lawmakers who want no part in appearing to be weak on crime. In addition, even if Gov. Steve Beshear supports such an amendment, he may be pressed by opponents to resist it -- opponents whose help he will need in putting an expanded gambling amendment on the ballot.

It is easy for politicians to oppose restoring the vote to convicts -- even those who have paid their debt to society. There is not much of a constituency for ex-prisoners.

Some harbor racial motives for not wanting ex-felons to vote, but they don't have to admit that. They can just talk about how undeserving criminals are. Others oppose restoration of voting rights on the assumption that, just because so many criminals come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, they likely will vote Democratic, but, publicly, they can posture against giving criminals this kind of "break."

What these and other opponents should remember is that it's called the "justice" system for a reason. It prescribes punishment, but it also, in most cases, holds out the possibility of rehabilitation and re-entry into legitimate society.

Read the Complete Editorial in the Louisville Courier Journal here