Reply #26: ACLU files suit over Mississippi's voting laws

[Melissa G]

Thanks to carzen for the post and the DU discussion here
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x452292
ACLU files suit over Mississippi's voting laws
The American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi has filed a lawsuit over the state's denial of voting rights to people convicted of felony crimes that include shoplifting, timber larceny and extortion.

The suit was filed in Hinds County Chancery Court on behalf of two residents against Mississippi's secretary of state's office and the attorney general's office. The ACLU is asking the court for a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order to allow people convicted of felonies to register to vote.

The Mississippi Constitution lists 10 crimes that result in the loss of voting rights if committed. Eleven other crimes were added to the list in 2004 based on an attorney general's opinion.

It is the latter group of crimes that the ACLU is challenging, said Nsombi Lambright, executive director of the state organization, which held a news conference Monday to announce the legal action.

"We're trying to get the state to stop taking voting rights away from people who have been convicted of crimes other than the 10 listed in the state's Constitution," she said.


http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MS_ACLU_VOTING_LAWSUIT_MSOL-?SITE=VARIT&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2006-10-09-17-49-29