CITIZEN ALERT v1.158ACLU

THIS FROM THE ACLU:


The California Court of Appeals ruled on December 21 that the voting rights of over 145,000 Californians (mostly young men of color with non-violent felony convictions) will be restored. The ACLU-NC, along with our co-counsel, The Social Justice Law Center, filed a suit in August to restore voting rights to this wrongfully disenfranchised group following an opinion issued by the Attorney General

For over 30 years, the California Secretary of State said that this group could vote. But, as of November 2005, the California Attorney General issued a contrary opinion, effectively disenfranchising over 145,000 individuals, mainly African-American and Latino men.

“Felony disenfranchisement laws remain the most significant means of preventing people of color from having a voice in the political process,” said Maya Harris, executive director of the ACLU of Northern California. “Every Californian should have the opportunity to fully participate in the electoral process.”