In an attempt to share more of the stories from former felons across the Commonwealth, we’re presenting a series of short interviews every few weeks on our blog.

"I'm a former felon,” Says Sandy Holbert of Scott County,” …but that's not all I am.  I'm a mother of four, daughter, a sister, a Sunday school teacher, a social worker and so much more."

Like 186,000 others in Kentucky, Holbert can’t vote because of something she did wrong in her past, paired with Kentucky’s extreme felony disenfranchisement laws.  Only Kentucky and Virginia take away voting rights from all former felons unless they can get a partial pardon from the Governor. 

When I received notification that I could no longer vote... I opened it up and the shame and embarrassment flooded me.  Even though I was the only one home I the time, I went to my room and shut the door and cried...  I felt like someone had just stripped me of my voice."

Sandy also cares a lot about her children growing up with a real stake in our Democracy and worries what it’s like for them to grow up not seeing her vote. 

“My youngest daughter asked me why I didn’t vote in this past Election.  It was tough to explain and I didn’t have a lot of answers.  It’s important to teach that actions have consequences, but I’ve paid my time for what I did wrong,” says Holbert.  "We're one of two states... that has such antiquated disenfranchisement laws... and it's time for us to change."

"Former felons are real people.  We're not stereotypes.  We're human beings.  I still have an opinion and I have the right to voice that and for it to make a difference.

One way that Sandy and her neighbors in her community are making a difference is by organizing throughout Scott County to put pressure on Senator Damon Thayer to allow a hearing for our legislation that would restore voting rights to former felons.

"I'm excited about what we can accomplish here in Georgetown," says Holbert.  “I think we’ll be able to make a difference.”