Where Prisoners and Ex-Offenders Are Eligible To Vote

I came across and article in Jet Magazine a few weeks ago and I admit to being pretty ignorant where Ex Offenders and voting are concerned.

I thought that it was the norm that Ex Offenders were not allowed to vote period, but I was VERY wrong and if you know of any and they're registered, let them know what the deal is.

(O, I bet you thought I forgot, huh? )

Criminal Offenders:  Who Can Vote?

Though criminal records can impact citizens' voting eligibility, voting laws vary from state to state.  In Maine and Vermont, all prisoners and ex-offenders can vote, while in Kentucky and Virginia, convicted felons permanently lose their eligibility.  Currently, an estimated 5.3 million Americans are prohibited from voting because of a felony conviction.

States where prisoners, probationers and parolees can vote-Vermont and Maine

States where probationers and parolees may vote-Oregon, Utah, Montana, North Dakota, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Hawaii, Rhode Island and Massachusetts plus Washington D.C.

States where only probationers may vote-California, Colorado, South Dakota, Connecticut and New York

States where all people with felony convictions can vote upon completion of sentence-Washington, Idaho, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Georgia, West Virginia, New Jersey, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina and Alaska.

States where only some people with felony convictions can vote-Check state election boards for qualifications-Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, Mississippi, Delaware, Tennessee, Alabama and Florida.

States where all people with felony convictions are permanently disenfranchised-Kentucky and Virginia.

Information from the October 6, 2008 edition of Jet Magazine www.ebonyJET.com