In most states, after people serve their time, they get their voting rights back automatically.
In Kentucky, even a class D felony is enough to lose someone their voting rights forever unless they can get a pardon straight from the governor.
Kentucky is one of the four most difficult states for a former felon to get their voting rights back. Only a small handful of states (Virginia, Florida, and Iowa) have as difficult a process.
An estimated 243,000 Kentuckians (including about 181,000 who have completed their sentences) can’t vote because of this barrier – disproportionately from low-income communities. This takes away tremendous voting power from these communities.
