During his State of the State address earlier this month, Gov. Phil Murphy voiced support for allowing convicted felons to have the right to vote after they’ve been released from prison and are on probation or parole. New Jersey law requires felons to complete their sentence and no longer be on parole or probation in order to be able to register to cast a ballot. Amol Sinha, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, supports the governor’s position. “I don’t think anybody should ever lose the right to vote in this state. If somebody is eligible to vote, they should always be eligible,” Sinha said.
Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick, R-Union, said he believes there is nothing wrong with withholding the right to vote until someone who has committed a felony is no longer on parole.
“What is wrong with letting someone finish their debt to society before they vote?” he said. “Once you pay your debt to society then you’re reinstated as a citizen. But finish your sentence.”
Full Article: NJ considers letting ex-cons on parole vote in elections.