Election Law Commons^™

Beggars Can't Be Voters: Why Washington's Felon Re-Enfranchisement Law Violates The Equal Protection Clause, Jill E. Simmons

Washington Law Review

The Washington State Constitution denies persons convicted of felonies the right to vote until their civil rights have been restored. Civil rights are restored when offenders complete all aspects of their sentence, including paying the legal-financial obligations imposed at sentencing. Payment of legal-financial obligations presents a significant hurdle to offenders trying to reclaim their right to vote. According to the Washington Department of Corrections, roughly 46,500 offenders in Washington have not had their right to vote restored solely because of unpaid legal-financial obligations. The right to vote is a fundamental right secured by the United States Constitution, yet the United …