When the 2010 General Assembly came to a close a few days ago, there had still not been any action from the Senate on House Bill 70, our bill to restore voting rights to most former felons once they have served their debt to society.  Despite passing the House with broad-bi-partisan support and despite having the votes we need in the Senate, a handful of Senate leaders including David Williams and Damon Thayer prevented the bill from coming to a vote in Committee. 

It’s a set-back, but we intend to keep pushing for voting rights along four general paths:
- Helping people through the existing process - We will be at a lot of community festivals this year and doing lots of door-to-door canvasses and other field work.  When we run into former felons who have completed their sentence, we can help them through the process to get their voting rights back through a pardon from the Governor on an individual basis.

- National Legislation – the Democracy Restoration act had its first hearing earlier this year.  It would restore voting rights to people after the end of their jail time, but only for purposes of voting in federal elections.  We intend to talk to our Kentucky US legislators about this issue.

- Litigation.  The NAACP won an important legal victory earlier this year in Washington State  challenging the constitutionality of felony voter disenfranchisement.  The same team that won that case is interested in working with us to challenge Kentucky’s law.  We’re exploring the possibility.

- HB 70 – Our primary strategy is still to pass a state constitutional amendment.  We will continue to build support behind the legislation, especially in key senate districts and will continue to meet with legislators throughout the year so we can be ready when the General Assembly re-convenes in January 2011.