Voter Empowerment
Rally for voting rights in Frankfort today
Despite snowy weather, about 260 people raised their voices for voting rights at a rally and lobby day Wednesday at the state capitol in Frankfort.
Several former felons took the podium to share their stories and urge passage of House Bill 70, which would restore voting rights to most former felons once they’ve served their debt to society. Kentucky is one of the most restrictive states, requiring former felons to obtain an individual pardon from the governor in order to regain their right to vote.
Aileen Bryant of Louisville recalled that at one time she was told she’d never amount to anything. “Today I am somebody,” she said. She urged those gathered to talk to their legislators about House Bill 70. “We need to let them know we deserve that right. Don’t give up.”
Michael Hiser of Bullitt County said he has obtained his bachelor’s degree and is working on a master’s degree since serving his time. He has regained custody of his children and paid $15,000 in back taxes. But he still can’t vote.
Ed West, another former felon, said it feels good to be a citizen again, even paying taxes. “It feels good to be responsible and be able to pay a debt.” But gaining voting rights for former felons will take a powerful movement. “We need to continue to voice such powerful voices.”
KFTC member Tayna Fogle, who emceed the rally, said she wants to set an example for her two children and seven grandchildren. “I want them to be able to believe in this democracy.”
For each of the past several years, including this year, the bill has passed the Kentucky House by a comfortable margin before stalling in the Senate. Today citizen lobbyists focused on talking with senators and urging them to support the bill.
They visited with dozens of lawmakers and left hundreds of postcards for Senate President Robert Stivers.
Think About Running for Public Office Next Year
There are no scheduled Kentucky elections in 2013, so KFTC is putting a lot of the effort we would have put into massive voter registration and mobilization and we'll instead focus on planning and training for the big elections ahead in 2014.
Next year, we'll have a big US Senate race, our 6 US House seats will be up for election, plus 19 of the 38 state Senate races, all 100 state House races, plus many local county and city races.
KFTC encourages our members and allies to consider running for public office themselves in 2014 - and we will host a candidate training later in the year to help people prepare to run.
Keep burning up those phone lines for Voting Rights!
HB 70, our bill to restore voting rights to former felons who have served their debt to society, still has a fighting chance. KFTC members and allies are continuing to burn up the phone lines calling legislators to try to get a hearing this Wednesday on the same day as our big lobby day.
The bill is assigned to the Senate State and Local Government committee, chaired by Senator Joe Bowen, who represents Owensboro, Daviess, and McLean counties. He has been tentatively supportive of this legislation, but will need a good push to make sure he hears the bill this week. If you're from this area or know others who are, please do everything you can today and tomorrow to make sure Bowen hears from constituents asking him to allow HB 70 to come to a vote on Wednesday.
Take Action
Please take two minutes and call the legislative message line, 1-800-372-7181, leaving a message for your own senator plus "Senate Leadership" and "Senate State and Local Government Committee members." A good, simple message is "Please support HB 70." The line is open until 11 p.m. tonight.
And this Wednesday (March 6th) is our big Voting Rights Lobby Day and Rally in Frankfort. We're planning on having 200-300 people at the capitol to send a powerful message to lawmakers. We will be lobbying in the morning and holding a rally in the rotunda starting at 1 p.m. with former felon speakers, music, and more. We especially value having more former felons there to talk about their own experiences
Lexington-Fayette urban county government comes out in support of restoring voting rights for former felons
As folks already know, HB 70, Representative Jesse Crenshaw's bill that would restore voting rights to most former felons who've served their time, has passed the Kentucky House seven years in a row, each year with broad bipartisan support. Most recently the vote was 75 to 25. Unfortunately when it's arrived in the Senate it hasn't received a hearing or vote. KFTC members and allies are working diligently to educate the Kentucky Senate about HB 70 and the positive effect it would have on communities across the commonwealth. And chapters have begun to develop strategies for involving their local governments.
Starting approximately a year ago, the central Kentucky chapter began lobbying their city council to pass a resolution in support of voting rights for former felons.
The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council is made up of 12 members who represent city districts, including three at-large council members of which one is the vice mayor. One of the chapter's first meetings was with Vice Mayor Linda Gorton who said that if KFTC members were serious about passing a resolution through the council then they should make a good faith effory to meet with every council member (and the mayor) to educate them about the issue.
So that's what chapter members did, and over the last year they met with nearly every member of the council, including Mayor Jim Gray and his aides to explain how the LFUCG could help towards building a more vibrant and healthy democracy. The lobby meetings were a great experience for chapter members because not only did it give them practice talking about the campaign but it helped them get to know how their city government worked and who the council members were. Their meeting with council member Ford went incredibly well, he was very supportive, so they asked him immediately if he'd sponsor the resolution, to which he agreed.
Their lobbying efforts paid off when last Thursday the city council voted unanimously to pass a resolution stating that not only do they believe that people who’ve served their time deserve the right to vote again, but also that the General Assembly should give the citizens of the commonwealth the chance to vote on the issue.
KFTC members and allies packed the council chambers and folks gave over an hour of testimony in support of the resolution.
KFTC member and former felon Tayna Fogle talked about her past as both a UK basketbal player and a person who fell into drugs. "I served a ten year prison sentence, I did my time. I made a mistake but I am not a mistake."
KFTC member Tedi Smith-Robillard, who received a pardon from the governor, shared with the council her commitment to justice. “I am 73 years old and until the day I die I will work for justice and for people to have the right to vote."
The resolution while symbolic (the city Lexington city council can’t change Kentucky’s constitution or give people their voting rights back), does send a powerful message to the General Assembly.
"We are counting on you to do the right thing. - Rev. Joseph Owens at the Lexington city council meeting.
Click here for a copy of the council meeting docket which contains the language of the resolution (number 41)
Our Voting Rights bill is moving! Call in today and join us next week!
Yesterday, HB 70, our bill to restore voting rights to former felons who have served their debt to society, was assigned to the Senate State and Local Government committee. The chair of this committee in previous years has prevented the bill from being heard, but the new chair, Senator Bowen, is tentatively supportive of this legislation. And he is much more likely to hold a hearing on the bill if he hears from you.
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