Bush eliminates form prisoners used to start applying for rights

[Reciprocity]

Sorry if this is a dupe.

The Associated Press
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla

<<snip>>
The office will send out letters to tell individuals whether they need to apply to regain their right to vote, DiPietre said. Felons whose rights are not restored must submit an application for a restoration hearing before the Clemency Board, which is comprised of Bush and the Florida Cabinet, if they wish to vote again.

<<snip>>
"This will ensure that fewer people will know about the process or hear about the process," said Howard Simon, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida.

Last week, the 1st District Court of Appeal ruled that the Department of Corrections wasn't following a state law requiring prisoners to get an application for a Clemency Board hearing. The court said officials must provide the forms and help felons fill them out before they leave prison.

Advocates say roughly 85 percent of felons must go through a hearing to get their voting rights restored. The court said that group shouldn't have to figure out - possibly months after leaving prison - how to apply for a hearing.
For more...
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040723/APN/407230641

[mom cat]

1. This is outrageous. I hope that Bushco gets forced to reinstate

the forms...pronto. This reminds me of the old racist strategy of denying the vote to minorities by setting huge obstacles in the way of potential voters. It's the same scam and I hope they get slammed for this.

:dem: