Felon Voting Bans Are Left Intact as U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Bias Claim

[marmar]

By Greg Stohr


Oct. 18 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Supreme Court refused to consider giving convicted felons the right to file race- discrimination suits challenging state laws that bar them from voting.

The justices today turned away an appeal from three Massachusetts inmates who sought to invalidate a state law that prohibits voting by incarcerated felons. The inmates said the restriction, approved by the state’s voters in 2000, violates the U.S. Voting Rights Act because it disproportionately affects blacks and Hispanics.

Forty-eight of the 50 states -- all but Vermont and Maine - - prohibit incarcerated felons from voting, with many states also restricting inmates who have been released from prison.

In upholding the Massachusetts law, the Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals pointed to the Constitution’s 14th Amendment, which says states can strip voting rights from people convicted of crimes. The appeals court also said Congress didn’t intend to limit that authority when it enacted the Voting Rights Act in 1965 and amended the law in 1982.

The Obama administration joined Massachusetts in urging the Supreme Court not to disturb the appeals court ruling.

The case is Simmons v. Galvin, 09-920.


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