Ex-Felons Can Vote in Idaho
The Idaho Statesman reports that county election boards have been denying ex-felons the right to vote--erroneously.
As city elections fast approach, county officials could be depriving untold numbers of felons from the ballot box by saying they can´t vote in Idaho. The fact is, people convicted of a felony in Idaho can vote once they´ve completed their sentence, unless they´ve committed treason. Yet it is generally assumed that felons are excluded from the voting booth.
But when The Idaho Statesman surveyed all 44 county election offices, almost a third got it wrong.
Here's the law, so if you know an ex-felon in Idaho, please get the word out:
The state constitution guarantees former felons the right to vote once their citizenship has been restored. State law says that happens once prison, probation or parole are complete for felonies committed in Idaho.
The law applies to those living in Idaho who have felony convictions in other states--if that state has restored their rights.
Generally, if a person has had their civil rights restored by another state, they can vote here, Ysursa said. A felony conviction does not affect a person´s ability to vote in Idaho, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
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