It was primarily because Sam Reed, our Secretary of State, is an incompetent moron.
I've hammered Reed many times over his idiocy on this and other matters. He accomplished his goal with this vote, he thinks, which is to eliminate his sworn duty to enforce all of the laws... including those pertaining to felon voters (He doesn't happen to think that much about identification or citizenship requirements, either) but because it's too "hard," he doesn't want to do it any more... not that he ever did it in the first place.
The idiocy of this bill is that with a dolt for Secretary of State who didn't want to deal with the administration of the felon voting requirements, who has no system in place nor the intelligence to figure one out (after all, he's only wasted NINE years ignoring this problem) will simply ignore the requirement that felons make their payments on time to keep their eligibility, and just make sure that all felons can vote.
He can't and won't monitor felons WITHOUT this program... who really expects him to do it WITH this program?
That's EASIER, you see, and Reed is only concerned about reducing his responsibilities. Not what's right. Not what's ethical... and given his abysmal enforcement of the felon voter laws (Essentially non-existent) not what's legally required.
If you Republicans want him, you can have him. But I would vote for a fire hydrant before I would ever vote for him.
Lawmakers OK bill to restore voting for felons
Story Published: Apr 22, 2009 at 4:24 PM PDT
By Associated Press
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - The Washington state Legislature has approved a measure that lets convicted felons get their voting rights back once they're no longer in state custody.
The House, on a 52-44 vote Wednesday, concurred with changes made in the Senate. The measure now goes to Gov. Chris Gregoire.
Under current law, felons can't vote until they have served their sentences and are no longer under state custody, including any parole or probation, and have paid all restitution and other court fees.
Under the bill that passed Wednesday, felons could register to vote once they're no longer under parole or probation. But those rights could be revoked if a felon fails to make regular payments on financial obligations, including court fees or restitution. not what's legal, either.
The House, on a 52-44 vote Wednesday, concurred with changes made in the Senate. The measure now goes to Gov. Chris Gregoire.
Under current law, felons can't vote until they have served their sentences and are no longer under state custody, including any parole or probation, and have paid all restitution and other court fees.
Under the bill that passed Wednesday, felons could register to vote once they're no longer under parole or probation. But those rights could be revoked if a felon fails to make regular payments on financial obligations, including court fees or restitution. not what's legal, either.
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