State lawmakers are trying to relax state laws that will make it easier for felons to vote after they’ve been released from probation or parole.
Right now felons have to fully pay any and all court fees and restitution they might owe before they’re allowed to register to vote.
The bill wouldn’t apply to those convicted of murder, manslaughter, felony sex offenses and a handful of others.
That price tag could total hundreds or thousands of dollars – something backers of the bill say might not be able to be paid off for many years in some cases.
“All of us who live and work every day might have tickets, you know, might have fines for parking or might not have paid our property taxes, but yet we’re allowed to vote and we’re blocking an opportunity for citizens who really have paid their debt to society,” said Senate Majority Whip Margaret Rose Henry (D-Wilmington East), calling it a matter of fairness.
It’s something that Gov. Jack Markell (D) promised to roll back in his State of the State speech earlier this year.
In 2013, the General Assembly struck down a five-year period felons had to wait after paying down their fines before being able to vote.
“They’ve been released from custody, they’ve been released from probation, they’re not under anyone’s supervision, so they should have a right to vote. Their citizenship has been fully restored and the right to vote is a very precious things that all people should be eligible to do in a free society," Henry said.
Several advocacy groups applauded the bill during a committee hearing Wednesday, including the Delaware ACLU and League of Women Voters.
"Requiring all fees and fines to be paid before voting is the functional equivalent of a poll tax," said Claire Snyder-Hall, director of Common Cause Delaware.
State Election Commissioner Elaine Manlove also spoke in support, saying "It's been a long time coming."
State senators will debate the bill next week.
