On the recordMarch 26, 2015
I am going to have to recommend a ``no'' vote because of States' rights concerns. There are 48 States and the District of Columbia that prohibit voting while incarcerated for a felony offense. I was fascinated to find that only two States--Maine and Vermont--permit persons in prison to vote. An estimated 5.85 million Americans--one in 40 adults--has currently or permanently lost their voting rights as a result of a felony conviction. But each State has its own process for restoring the voting rights to ex-offenders now. States are best suited to make the judgment call, as they are closest to their citizens. So I ask for a States' rights vote of ``no.''
