Once upon a time, I shared an apartment in West Philadelphia with a criminology grad student enamored of the work of French philosopher Michel Foucault. He has since gone on to a career as an artisan woodworker.
I thought of him and Foucault more than once during Thursday's Minnesota House floor debate on New Hope DFLer Rep. Cedrick Frazier's bill HF28, known as Restore The Vote.
At the Minnesota Reformer, Grace Deng gives a flavor of the debate in House passes bill to restore voting rights to people released from prison:
The Minnesota House passed a bill to restore voting rights to people still on parole or probation. The bill heads to the state Senate for a vote.
“People for years and sometimes decades have no stake, have no investment, have no way to be heard,” said Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon at a press conference ahead of the vote. “After this bill passes, they will have that voice. They will have that power. They will reclaim that for themselves.”
More than 50,000 Minnesotans would be able to vote if the bill (HF28) is signed into law. Current Minnesota law allows formerly incarcerated people to vote after finishing every part of their sentence, including probation, parole or any form of supervised release. Minnesota has one of the lowest incarceration rates in the country but some of the longest probationary periods of any state. . . .
Republicans talked about crimes, and said that the people who committed them should not be allowed to vote. Democrats spoke about their own friends or people they met who are on parole or probation.
Republicans attempted to pass an amendment that would prevent people on parole or probation for murder or sex crime convictions from voting, calling themselves victim’s rights advocates. Chief author Rep. Frazier said restricting “one-off” situations was not in the spirit of the bill.
“I heard the testimony from the domestic violence organizations and whatever that the victims are for this,” said Rep. Peggy Scott, R-Andover. “I would like to know what data they used to say that. Did they interview all the victims? What about the dead victims? They aren’t getting a voice in this.”
Several victims’ rights groups — including the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault — are in support of restoring the right to vote for anyone on probation or parole. [emphasis added]
Republicans also introduced amendments related to voting fraud — a common GOP talking point that is rare in practice — including an amendment to prevent people from voting if they’re still on parole or probation for elections or voting-related felony convictions.
“We should choose to protect the sanctity of our vote,” said Rep. Anne Neu Brindley, R-North Branch. “It is a red herring to say that somehow this is shaming people. Well I’m sorry, you’ve already gotten a felony conviction. You should maybe be a little ashamed of the behavior you engaged in to receive that felony conviction.”
The bill passed 71-59.
So much for squelching the vote.
At the Minnesota House Session Daily, Mike Cook reports in House votes to restore voting rights to felons post-incarceration:
People once incarcerated for their felonious misdeeds should be able to have a say in what happens on the outside.
So says the majority of the House.
Sponsored by Rep. Cedrick Frazier (DFL-New Hope) HF28 would restore the right to vote to individuals convicted of a felony once they are released from incarceration, rather than their completion of a sentence, including probation. Written notice and a voter registration application would be provided by the Corrections Department to an individual upon release from incarceration.
Passed 71-59 by the House Thursday, it now goes to the Senate.
Because Minnesota is a low-incarceration, high-probation state, former inmates can remain under the watchful eye of local or state corrections officials for years — or even decades. Minnesota is one of at least 16 states where any probation, parole or supervised release must be completed before a person’s voting right is restored. Policies vary across other states. Twenty-one states allow what this bill would do. . . .
Some Republicans expressed concern about a one-size-fits-all model.
“Members on this side of the aisle are all for second chances, but with limits,” said Rep. Peggy Scott (R-Andover).
Amendments were offered — and ultimately withdrawn — by Republicans to keep current law in place for offenses related to murder or criminal sexual conduct; elections, voting or the conduct of campaigns; making terroristic threats, stalking, or the harassment of public or law enforcement officials. The same was true for one to require the payment of fines, fees, penalties, and other restitutions before a voting right is restored.
Rep. Paul Torkelson (R-Hanska) said nothing in the bill would stop someone who committed felonious voter fraud from voting in the next election. “We should choose to protect the sanctity of our vote,” said Rep. Anne Neu Brindley (R-North Branch).
Never one to underestimate the power of a poll tax, that Republican House leader.
Here's the Minnesota House Information Services YouTube of the Debate:
At Minnesota Public Radio, Brian Bakst reports in Voting-restoration bill gets House OK; Senate action due soon:
. . .Minnesota wouldn’t be the first to take the step to speed up voting eligibility. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 21 states automatically restore voting rights upon a person’s release from prison. Others do so after a waiting period. Only 11 carry an indefinite revocation or require completion of all aspects of a sentence.
DFL lawmakers noted the importance of the bill’s passage at the start of Black History Month.
Frazier said Minnesota’s current practice disproportionately affects people of color and is a form of racial discrimination.
“High felony disenfranchisement rates among communities of color dilutes representation in our state's political system,” he said. “And as a system set up on representation, if we can't all participate we can't truly be representative of everyone in our state.”
It's not often that fancy theory from my days at Penn come to mind, which is probably a good thing.
Photo: Stillwater Prison.
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