Washington County ballot initiative aims to streamline restoration of felon voting rights
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A new ballot initiative has been approved to collect signatures in Washington County, according to a news release.
The initiative aims to streamline the process for felons to regain the right to vote after completing their sentence.
According to a news release, this initiative is ready to begin collecting signatures from registered voters in Washington County, following a legal review and approval from the Washington County Clerk’s office.
The new ballot initiative is called the “Voting Rights Restoration Act.”
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This initiative will streamline the process for felons to regain voting rights after completing all of their sentencing requirements, including prison time and fines.
“One of the largest obstacles for many felons in getting their voting rights back is knowing what paperwork is required, what forms they need to collect, and where they need to go to get their voting rights back,” said Kenny Grand, a member of The Citizens for Redemption Coalition and codrafter of the measure.
The coalition is looking to get this initiative on the 2024 ballot in Washington County.
“If somebody has served their debts to society for wrongs they may have done in the past, we should make sure that we aren’t making it overly difficult for them to re-enter society and be contributing citizens,” Grand said.
The group has set a goal to collect 10,000 signatures before the 2024 election.
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