It is time for the Kentucky Senate to pass HB 70 and let us vote

On February 12, the Kentucky House passed HB 70, a constitutional amendment to restore voting rights to nearly a quarter million Kentuckians. This was the 10^th time the bill has passed the House, and the vote of 86-12 was the widest margin of support yet! In fact, our state representatives have cast a total of 799 yes votes for this bill over the years.

It is time for the Kentucky Senate to pass HB 70 and let us vote.

The next two weeks are our best opportunity to move this important legislation through the Kentucky Senate. We need your help. Here’s how you can take action:

1)    Call the legislative message line, 1-800-372-7181. Ask to leave a message for Senate President Robert Stivers, Senator Joe Bowen, and your own Senator. “Please support House Bill 70 and the restoration of voting rights in Kentucky. It is time to Let Us Vote.”

2)    Attend a Voting Right Prayer Vigil outside Senate Leadership offices on the second floor of the Capitol Annex in Frankfort from 12-1 pm on Tuesday, February 24^th. People of all faith traditions are welcome.

3)    Attend a Voting Rights Lobby Day and Rally on Thursday, February 26th in Frankfort! Our lobby day will get started 8:30-9:00 am in Room 113 of the Capitol Annex. The rally will take place from 1-2 p.m. in the Capitol Rotunda.

Kentucky is one of just three states that permanently take away the right to vote from all people convicted of a felony, unless they receive a pardon from the governor. In a majority of states, voting rights are automatically restored when people are released from prison or finished with their full sentence. Kentucky’s lifetime voting ban for people with felony convictions is embedded in outdated language in our state constitution.

As a result, the population of voting age citizens who cannot vote in Kentucky is larger than the metro area of Bowling Green, our third largest city. Shamefully, our state has the second highest rate of African-American disenfranchisement in the country.   

It is time for the Senate to pass HB 70 and let us vote.

Thank you for taking action. We look forward to seeing many of you in Frankfort.