Under Arizona law, 200,000 felons unable to vote here

By AJ Vicens

Cronkite News Service

PHOENIX – Jean Salazar is serving three years probation and must pay restitution after pleading guilty to felony theft for writing herself two extra paychecks when she worked as an office manager. Under Arizona law, Salazar won’t be able to vote in this year’s election, the first time she hasn’t been able to since she turned 18. As a first-time felon guilty of a single count, Salazar’s right to vote will be automatically restored when she’s completed probation and paid restitution. If she had multiple counts against her or multiple convictions, Salazar would have to wait two years after completing probation or any prison sentence and paying restitution before she could ask a judge to restore her right to vote. The Sentencing Project, a Washington, D.C.-based group promoting prison and sentencing reform, estimates that 200,000 felons in Arizona, half of whom aren’t in prison, won’t be eligible to vote next month. To Marc Mauer, the group’s executive director, that doesn’t make sense. “Fundamentally, democracy is about participation by everyone and we don’t put a character test on the right to vote,” Mauer said.