Resolution No. ________, Series 2014
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A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT OF THE KENTUCKY CONSTITUTION §145 TO RESTORE VOTING RIGHTS TO PERSONS CONVICTED OF FELONIES other than treason, intentional killing, a sex crime, or bribery, the right to vote AT THE EXPIRATION OF PROBATION OR FINAL DISCHARGE FROM PAROLE OR MAXIMUM EXPIRATION OF SENTENCE (As Amended).
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Sponsored By: Council Members Scott, Shanklin, Woolridge, James, Hamilton, Ward-Pugh, Blackwell, Butler, Tandy, Miller, Welch, President King, Owen, Downard, Fowler and Benson
WHEREAS, persons who have been convicted of felony crimes are, pursuant to Kentucky Constitution §145 and Kentucky Revised Statute ("KRS") 116.113(3), removed from the voter registration records and are not permitted to vote in elections in the state of Kentucky; and
WHEREAS, all persons convicted of any felony must apply for executive clemency, a complex procedure that provides no assurance, transparency or uniformity to the process of petitioning for the restoration of voting rights; and
WHEREAS, the Kentucky General Assembly has proposed that §145 of the Kentucky Constitution be amended to state that "Persons convicted in any court of competent jurisdiction of any other felony shall be excluded from the right of suffrage until expiration of probation or final discharge from parole or maximum expiration of sentence," which simplifies the process of restoring voting rights to convicted felons in a more straightforward, uncomplicated and efficient manner; and
WHEREAS, in following similar practices with other governing bodies throughout the nation, and in keeping with the principles of rehabilitation of society's criminal offenders and restorative justice, and to adhere to the principle that voting is a fundamental right and that participation in the democratic process shall not unnecessarily be infringed on;
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF THE LOUISVILLE/JEFFERSON COUNTY METRO GOVERNMENT (THE COUNCIL) AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I: The Louisville Metro Council, by this Resolution, requests the Kentucky General Assembly work to enact law that would streamline the process of restoring voting rights to persons convicted of a felony other than treason, intentional killing, a sex crime, or bribery the right to vote after expiration of probation, final discharge from parole, or maximum expiration of sentence and to make said process more automatic straightforward, uniform and efficient so as to restore the fundamental right to vote and allow those who have paid their debt to society to fully participate in the democratic process.
SECTION II: This Resolution shall take effect upon its passage and approval.
__________________________________ ______________________________
H. Stephen J. Ott Jim King
Metro Council Clerk President of the Council
__________________________________ _____________________________
Greg Fischer Approval Date
Mayor
Approved as to form and legality:
Michael J. O'Connell
Jefferson County Attorney
BY: _______________________________
ResolutionSupportingHB70RestoringVotingRightstoConvictedFelonsMCCOhso Draft 2Amended 07.22.2014
ResolutionSupportingHB70RestoringVotingRightstoConvictedFelonsMCCOhso Draft 2 06.18.2014
ResolutionSupportingHB70RestoringVotingRightstoConvictedFelons ROC kbb Draft 1.docx 05.27.2014