Kentucky Adds More Barriers for Felons Trying to get Voting Rights back

• More than 600 applications from felons are awaiting Gov. Fletcher's decision, with less than a month left before the Oct. 4 deadline to register to vote in the November election.

Gov. Ernie Fletcher is taking a different approach than past Kentucky governors to restoring voting rights to felons. Fletcher has added steps to the process by requiring felons who want to vote again to provide three character references and explain in writing why they should be allowed to go to the polls. Local prosecutors have also been given added sway under Fletcher's new system. The new policy has upset some civil libertarians, voting-rights advocates and Demo-crats. They argue that it adds unnecessary steps that could discourage some felons from seeking to have their rights restored. John Roach, Fletcher's top lawyer, said applications received little or no scrutiny under the old system, and some felons were allowed to vote again even though they owed restitution to victims. Sandy Canon, executive director of the National Conference for Community and Justice in Lexington, said she thinks the process works against some minorities and the poor. [more ]