The Felons Right to Vote
A Jefferson County judge ruled that an unclear Alabama state law allows felons to register to vote. State law says that felons do not have the right to vote if they have committed crimes of moral turpitude, however, moral turpitude was never properly defined.
Circuit Judge Robert Vance Jr.'s decision stems from a 2005 lawsuit arguing that the state constitution is clear that people convicted of certain felonies including DUI and drug possession - unlike murder, rape or robbery - do not lose their voting rights and do not need to apply for an eligibility certificate from the board.Judge Vance's decision has been placed on hold however, pending the states submission of the voting change for mandatory review by the Justice Department under the federal Voting Rights Act. He feels that his position as a judge allows him to rule on the case only and that the power to determine what is considered moral turpitude rests in the hands of the state legislature.
"Only the Legislature has the constitutional power to decide which crimes involve moral turpitude so as to justify the removal of a fundamental civil right for which so many have fought and died," Vance's ruling said.
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