Letter: State has duty to empower former felons

Tuesday, June 1, 2004 | 9:58 a.m.

I appreciate the remarks of E.J. Dionne in his May 26 column, "Quick fixes for voting problems." Mr. Dionne brought up an excellent point about the racism perpetuated by state laws that prohibit former felons from voting. Communities of color are more likely to be adversely affected in states where these laws exist. In Nevada, where African-Americans make up less than 10 percent of the population yet represent nearly 30 percent of our prison population, this point really hits home.

In 2003 Nevada joined the majority of states that automatically restore voting rights upon completion of prison, parole or probation. Although the new law is not all-inclusive, it is a step in the right direction. Unfortunately, the majority of the former felons who call Nevada home (this exceeds 40,000 people) have no idea that they can now vote. For this reason, the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada has initiated a coordinated effort to get the word out to them.

With the upcoming elections, empowering former felons to participate in the decisions that affect their lives, families and communities is an investment in the future of our state.

Any former felon who needs more information about regaining their voting rights can contact our office and we will work with them one-on-one at no charge.

LAUNA HALL Editor's note: The writer is a field organizer for the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada.