Felons can restore their voting rights

Civil rights restored once they have satisfied judgment entered against them

By KEITH KINNAIRD News editor

     SANDPOINT — If you have paid your debt to society, you’re free to vote in an Idaho election.

     Those who are convicted of a felony in Idaho are stripped of their right to vote, but the civil right is restored once they’ve satisfactorily completed their imprisonment, parole or probation, according to state law.

     One of the rights that remains dimmed out is firearms possession for those convicted of violent or sex-related offenses. The same goes for convicted burglars, drug traffickers and kidnappers.

     A misdemeanor conviction does not impinge upon the right to vote in Idaho.

     Diana Campbell, a deputy clerk in Bonner County’s elections office, said she does not receive a lot of inquiries from convicted felons checking on their eligibility to vote.

     “It doesn’t happen very often,” she said.

     Clerk’s offices in Idaho advise convicted felons their right to vote is revoked until they have satisfied the judgment that was entered against them and filled out a new voter registration form.

     But many felony offenders appear to be unaware they can restore their right to vote.

     Christine Quayle, a 1st District Court jury commissioner, said many are discovering they can still vote when they’re called as a prospective juror.

     Jury questionnaires ask potential jurors if they have been convicted of a felony and if they’re still on probation, which sometimes requires her to do follow-up on those questions.

     “There have been many times when I have talked with individuals who haven’t voted for up to 20 years because they were not aware that their voting rights had been reinstated and that all they needed to do was register to vote again,” said Quayle.

     Quayle recalls a man in his 50s who ran afoul of the law in his 20s and believed his right to vote had been permanently revoked.

     “He was choked up when I explained to him that, by law, he could register to vote. It was something that was very important to him and it was something that he said was more important to him than ever being able to own a firearm again,” she said.

     To keep ineligible voters from casting ballots in an election, Campbell said the state checks county’s voter rolls against Idaho Department of Correction records. Those who lie on voter registration forms can also face consequences.

     “The individual is signing, under penalty of perjury, that they do not have any legal disqualifications when they sign the voter registration card,” said Campbell.