Restoration of Voting Rights to those on Probation and Parole is Proposed

      An effort to allow people on probation and parole to vote has been renewed for a third legislative session. 

      Springfield Republican Melanie Stinnett has filed the language of House Bill 617 since she was first elected.  It would lift the prohibition on voting rights for those on probation and parole for a felony conviction, unless their conviction was for a crime related to voting or elections.

      “It is, in my opinion, a small bite that makes a big difference,” Stinnett said.  “It’s really my belief that we should be hoping that these individuals can reenter our communities and be successful members of our communities, and one piece of that is civic engagement.”

      Stinnett’s bill has received broad support in the past two years, despite falling short of becoming law.  She agreed to carry it largely because of an encounter she had while knocking doors during her first run for the House.

“I actually knocked on a door of a gentleman who was really upset that I was there knocking on his door and slammed the door in my face, wasn’t very happy with me, which is pretty uncommon when you’re door knocking, actually.  People are generally pretty kind.”

A short time later, the man caught up with her. 

“He was kind of teary eyed and he apologized and said, ‘I’m really sorry for how I responded but I can’t vote and it really just bothered me,’ and we had a great talk but he was in one of these situations where he had been previously incarcerated, was on probation and parole, and was unable to vote, but he is a member of our community and he is working and living in our community and it really bothered him that he didn’t have the ability to vote.”

      After meeting several more voters who were in a similar situation, and some thought and reflection, Stinnett said she was quick to agree to carry the proposal.

      “I said you don’t even have to sell me on it.  I saw the impact in my community and I think it’s a worthwhile bill to carry and look into, and so we’ve really pushed it pretty significantly over the past two years,” Stinnett said.  “We’re not just talking about voting for president, right?  We’re talking about voting for school board, we’re voting for local taxes, we’re voting for city council, and these things that we talk about are impacting our everyday lives.  These individuals who have done their time, been incarcerated, and been released don’t have the ability to contribute to their community in that way.”

      To exempt those guilty of violating election law makes sense for obvious reasons, Stinnett said, but she has seen no reason to have additional exclusions.

      “To draw a line somewhere I think for me is a challenge, because I want everyone to have the opportunity to be reinvested in their community and I don’t want to be the one kind of deciding exactly where that line is drawn.”

      House Bill 617 has not been assigned to a committee.  Stinnett is hopeful it will soon begin moving through the legislative process.