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Lawyers Say Restore Voting for Felons

KET

Kentucky felons who’ve served their time should have their voting rights restored and their records expunged…That recommendation is from the Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Ernie Lewis is legislative agent for the organization.

He says there are more than 20,000 people in state prisons now who won’t be allowed to vote when they are released…

Lewis says Kentucky has the second highest rate of disenfranchisement for African-Americans in the U.S. He says one in five African-Americans in Kentucky is ineligible to vote.

Lewis also says ex-cons would be better able to return to society, get jobs and take care of themselves if their records were expunged. He testified last week before Kentucky House and Senate members of the Judiciary Committee.