The Independent View: WA May be 18th State to Allow Felons to Vote Right After Prison

Washington looks on course to become the Second State in as many months to Restore Voting Rights to Felons as soon as they Leave Prison.

Last week a State Senate Committee Approved a Bill Repealing a Requirement that Convicts Complete Probation before Reclaiming the Franchise.

The Measure now goes to the Full Senate, which like the State House has a Solid Democratic Majority.

Felons and Voting Rights When the Right to Vote is Restored

- If you were convicted of a felony in a Washington State court, your right to vote is restored automatically once you are no longer under the authority of Department of Corrections Authority (DOC) (in prison or on community custody). If you have questions about your status with DOC, call at (800) 430-9674.

- If you were convicted of a felony in another state or in federal court, your right to vote is restored automatically as long as you are not currently incarcerated for that felony.

- You do not lose the right to vote for a misdemeanor conviction or a conviction in juvenile court.

- You do not need a certificate of discharge (COD) to have your voting rights restored.

- Fines, restitution, or other legal financial obligations (LFOs): You are not required to completely pay off your fines, restitution, or other legal financial obligations (LFOs) before you register to vote. However, your voting rights can be revoked if the sentencing court determines that you have failed to comply with the terms of your legal financial obligations.

- Only people in jail, prison, or on community custody under DOC authority for a felony conviction are not eligible to vote.

- Once your right to vote is restored, you must register to vote if you want to vote. If you were previously registered to vote, you must re-register to vote. You must also be a citizen of the United States, legal resident of Washington State, 18 years old, not under the authority of the DOC, and not disqualified due to a court order.

New Jersey, another State where the Levers of Power are All in Democrats' Hands, Re-Enfranchised more than 80,000 People by Enacting a Similar Law in December, 2019, becoming the 17th State, plus Washington, D.C., where Discharge from Prison is the Only Barrier to a Felon Voting.