My son has been disenfranchised - Bastards

[independentpiney]

My son registered to vote in September. He had a misdemeanor conviction a few years back that he had probation for, and he finished the probation over a year ago. The county elections board sent him a certified letter that he wasn't able to pick up because he works 6 days a week 6:00am to 5:00 pm, that I found out today demanded he bring in a letter from his former probation officer saying his probation is over. They said that since it's past the Oct 4 registration deadline, its too late for him to do so now.

This seems like bullshit to me. There is nothing on the state website for voter restoration saying the voter has to provide proof of completing the sentence. Not to mention wherever they pulled the info from about the conviction must have shown it was completed. And what if he registered on the October 4 deadline? would they have just thrown out the registration without an opportunity for him to prove their error?

I am sooo pissed over this.

[Langis]

1. What state is this in?

This doesn't sound right at all.

[Kikosexy2]

2. And you are...

where? what location/state? I can look up election laws for you at my job here at the L.A. County Law Library--we have all state laws, codes, statutes.

[independentpiney]

7. We're in Ocean County, NJ

I also talked to a woman at the state office who said the 21 counties have different rules.

[Kikosexy2]

19. I will ...

research for you. I will get back as soon as I can.

[Lars39]

3. I thought only felony convictions were what counted,

not misdemeanors. :shrug:

[The Chronicler]

4. I thought it was only felonies?

Which I still think is BS.

[Wickerman]

5. I don't think any states have anything for misdemeanors

Felonies, yes, misdemeanors, no.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

8. Felons not misdemeanors

I smell something really bad here.

[independentpiney]

10. It was a felony charge pled down to misdemeanor

they must be all f'ed up

[Wickerman]

15. I found this

NEW JERSEY

You must:

Be a citizen of the United States.
Be a resident of New Jersey and county at your address at least 30 days before the next election.
Be at least 18 years of age by the time of the next election
Not be serving a sentence or on parole or probation as the result of a conviction of any indictable offense under the laws of this or another state or of the United States

http://www.fec.gov/votregis/xstate_voter_reg_requirements02.htm

That may be correct if the crime was an "indictable offense", However, as said below - he should vote as provisional - the issue should get cleared up to make his vote count.

[htuttle]

16. If they pled down to a misdemeanor...

...then it's a misdemeanor. He should be able to vote.

[noamnety]

6. He should call 1-866-our-vote

Maybe the lawyers there can help him.

[independentpiney]

12. Thanks, I'll give him that #

[HFishbine]

13. Yes! Call that number above!

That's what they are there for. (Great suggestion lwfern)

[Walt Starr]

9. Go anyway and file a provisional ballot!

That law is there to protect against this sort of thing.

Have him go file a provisional anyway!

[aden_nak]

11. Perhaps someone is fucking with him, honestly.

As a rule, Republicans don't want young people voting. They tend to swing to the left. Especially when they'd rather not be drafted.

[htuttle]

14. What state disqualifes voters for misdemeanors?

I have never heard of that. I've only heard of felons being disenfranchised.

[Nicholas_J]

17. Contact: 1-866 OURVOTE

As far as I knwo it is not illegalg ANYWHERE in the U.S. to prevent someone from voting based on a misdeameanor violation ONLY FELONY..

There are attorneys woring for the Kerry campaign all over the country to prohibit this. THey will get a local attorney on it immediately. I know we are doing it in FLorida every day right now.



1-866 OURVOTE

[Dinger]

18. Contact The Sentencing Project

Long story, but they helped me in a similar situation (a lot).
http://www.sentencingproject.org/

[independentpiney]

20. Thanks to all

I'm going to see him when he gets off work, get all the details and help him take care of this. They must have`all his records screwed up re the felony charge having been pled down. Regardles, he should be able to cast a provisional. Needing to provide proof before the registration deadline does not sound right at all.

[Kikosexy2]

21. Okay...

if you have a local county law library or university law library you can call and explain your situation to them that might help. I looked up in the New Jersey Statutes annotated under section 19:31-17 Commissioner to be notified of conviction of county resident of state or federal crime constituting for disfranchisement; transfer to conviction file. It's a bit lengthy but if you have a fax machine and provide me with the number I can fax this info to you (free--we're expensive here at the library). Or you can make a copy for yourself at your local county law library.