House Approves Bill Restoring Voting Rights To Felons By LISA CHEDEKEL The Hartford Courant April 12, 2001
Thousands of criminals on probation could have their voting rights restored this year - an effort that failed last year and that continues to stir controversy.
The state House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a proposal, by an 80-63 vote, to give convicted felons the right to vote while on probation. Currently, they are barred from voting until they complete the full terms of their sentences.
Although the same bill died in the Senate last year, its chief sponsor, state Rep. Kenneth P. Green, D-Hartford, said the odds are better this time, partly because Democrats have a bigger edge over Republicans in the Senate - 21 to 15. He and other supporters say the bill would help end the disenfranchisement of many minority voters. Most of the 36,000 felons on probation in Connecticut are minorities.
"I think people who are trying to re-acclimate to the community can be helped if they're allowed to have the civic responsibility of voting," said Green, who has been pushing the issue for six years.
A number of states allow convicted felons to cast ballots before completing probation; a few allow imprisoned felons to vote.
Republicans who oppose the bill tied up the debate by trying to tack on an amendment that would have barred people from seeking election to two public offices at the same time (the Jiminy Joey LIEberman Amendment). Their proposal, which never made it out of a legislative committee, was a backlash against Democratic U.S. Sen. Joseph I. LIEberman's dual runs for his Senate seat and the vice presidency. The amendment failed after a lengthy debate.
Republicans who opposed granting voting rights to felons on probation said the loss of the privilege was the price for breaking the law.
"Convicted felons have the right to vote, as we speak," once they complete their sentences, said state Rep. Lawrence F. Cafero Jr., R-Norwalk. He noted that people are on probation as punishment for committing crimes.
Also moving through the legislature Wednesday was a proposed change in law, supported by Democratic lawmakers and Republican Gov. John G. Rowland, that would allow judges to depart from mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders. The judiciary committee approved the bill, which would give judges discretion in sentencing, as long as they state reasons in open court for imposing a sentence that departs from the mandatory minimum.
In a related matter, the Senate passed a bill Wednesday, by a 25-9 vote, to expand the eligibility requirements for accelerated rehabilitation, a form of probation for people accused of relatively minor crimes. The proposal now goes to the House.
Proponents said the bill could ease prison overcrowding because it would allow judges to sentence people convicted of first-degree larceny to probation - rather than incarceration - if the crime does not involve physical force.
An average of 142 people were incarcerated at any given time this fiscal year for first-degree larceny, according to an analysis by the Office of Legislative Research. First-degree larceny involves taking or extorting property worth more than $10,000.
Sen. George "Doc" Gunther, R-Stratford, attempted to add an amendment that would have excluded state public officials from being eligible for accelerated rehabilitation for any offense. It failed, 28-6.
Courant Staff Writer Carrie Budoff contributed to this story.