ACLU Sues Arizona on Ex-Felon Voting

Although Arizona permits ex-felons to register to vote, they may not register to vote if they owe the state any money in connection with their punishment. They may not register, even though they have been released from prison, if they still owe any court costs, costs of incarceration, or interest on those debts. On June 1, the ACLU sued Arizona in federal court over that policy. In 1966 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Harper v Virginia Board of Elections that the right to vote cannot be made conditional on paying any money. That case struck down Virginia’s poll tax of $1.50. The new Arizona case is called Coronado v Napolitano, cv07-1089 PHX-SMM. It was assigned to Judge Stephen McNamee, a Bush Sr. appointee.


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