Some good news out of Ohio

[roseBudd]

Officials will tell felons of voting right
Prisoner advocates in Ohio agree to drop federal lawsuit

Ohio parole officials agreed Monday to provide written notice to former prisoners about their voting rights.

The move came three weeks after an advocacy group for prisoners filed a federal lawsuit accusing state and county elections officials of depriving felons of their right to vote.

The suit, which the group voluntarily dismissed Monday, had claimed elections officials routinely tell felons they must complete parole or fill out unnecessary paperwork before registering to vote in Ohio.

Under Ohio law, felons are allowed to vote as long as they are no longer in prison.


http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/09/14/loc_loc1bfelon.html

[Kukesa]

1. Absolutely true.

However, I've spoken to four Ohio felons and each told me their PAROLE officer told them they couldn't vote because of their prior conviction.

Our Ohio Women for Kerry group had a Board of Elections official speak at last week's meeting and she confirmed your post.

BTW, I went ahead and registered those guys -- figured I'd take a chance and see what happens; they were all for it.

[roseBudd]

2. Felons are allowed to vote in Ohio

Please take the time to thank Dan Horn [e-mail]
of the Cincinnati Enquirer for his excellent articles highlighting the problem in Ohio. Because of this coverage many letters and emails were sent To Kenneth Blackwell, Secretary of State.