1 in 4 African-Americans in Kentucky Can't Vote

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Posted: 10:24 PM Mar 5, 2008
Last Updated: 9:11 AM Mar 6, 2008
Reporter: Ryan Dearbone
Email Address: ryan.dearbone@wbko.com

10 comments

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Did you know that one out of every four African-Americans in Kentucky isn't allowed to vote?

This startling statistic from the Kentucky League of Women means a fourth of African-Americans in the state of Kentucky will never be able to vote because of their status as convicted felons.

"It makes no sense because it defeats the purpose of our corrections system, which is to re-habilitate those who have committed crimes," said Governor Steve Beshear.

That's a sentiment that local president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People agrees with.

"My initial thought is that's a lot of individuals that have lost, and paid their dues to society, but still haven't got their rights back to vote," said Omar Rogers, President of the NAACP.

But what's more, Kentucky has the highest disenfranchisement rate of blacks in the country, even though they only make up about 8-percent of the state's population.

That's triple the national rate for African-Americans.

"That really stands out because with a smaller number of African-Americans in Kentucky vote and yet and still they are one of the highest ones incarcerated and losing their rights to," said Rogers.

Rogers says not having the right to vote can affect blacks more than it may seem.

He believes it gives young blacks who've served their time an incentive to stay on the straight an narrow in order to enjoy this privilege.

He also says with a historic political race like we're currently seeing, the voice of the African-American community is not being heard as loudly if these people can't vote.

"Once they've paid their dues and completed their sentence, they should have their voting rights restored immediately without having to go through a lot of extra paperwork getting references and having to be out for a while to show that they have been rehabilitated," stated Rogers.

Which Rogers hopes will lead to less African-Americans going in and out of correctional facilities.

To read the full report by The League of Women Voters of Kentucky
click here.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: J D Location: b owling green on Mar 6, 2008 at 07:54 PM
Kentucky is one of only a few states holding on this injustice. Once a person has paid their debt to society begin to work, pay taxes, why shouldn't they be allowed to vote on issues that affect them. To allow this to stand is systemic lynching at the highest level. I have no problem with losing thier rights because of a felon but once time is served why should one deny them the right to vote. If they commit another crime, its won't be because they could or could not vote. Give me a break.

Posted by: Anna-Laura Location: Bowling Green on Mar 6, 2008 at 04:18 PM
Having worked in corrections, I would like to see ex-cons have a real chance at a clean start. Many are labeled for life and end up back in crime because they have no place else to go. Some of these individuals commit a single, relatively harmless felony in their late teens yet are saddled with obstacles for the rest of their lives. Stealing a metal shopping cart is a felony. Public urination is a felony in some states that can also result in a person being branded a sex offender and put on a registry for life. Driving recklessly or so many miles over the speed limit can be categorized as a felony. And I'm sure as I type this email that there are bills being introduced to classify even more behaviors as felonies. This is America, where the rights of the individual have always been valued, or is that changing? Should we require IQ tests for voters? Should we ban non-Christians from voting? Or smokers? Or fat people? Or people who have children? Maybe people who don't have children?

Posted by: BARBARA Location: SMITHS GROVE on Mar 6, 2008 at 10:29 AM
WHAT ARE THE STATISTICS ON CARCASIAN, MEXICAN-AMERICANS,ETC. WHATS THE OVERALL % IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE HAVE TO TARGET ONE GROUP. ALSO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CONVICTED FELONS THAT BREAK THE LAW, AND YOU WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO VOTE. NEXT IT WE BE THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT.

Posted by: Donald Location: Bowling Green on Mar 6, 2008 at 10:14 AM
We are a nation of laws approved by the majority of citizens. We survive as a nation only when our laws are enforced. When anyone violates a law, the courts determine the sentence. If the violation was of a serious nature, the violator looses his rights as a citizen until the sentence is fulfilled. Only then should his rights be restored.

Posted by: Dengland Location: Edmonton on Mar 6, 2008 at 09:19 AM
I agree, once a felon has served their complete term, and haven't broken other laws, they should be allowed to vote no matter their race or gender. I didn't agree with the way the heading of this article read as it seemed to indicate it was someone else's fault they couldn't vote instead of their own. No one told them to break the law, and race or gender shouldn't have anything to do with it. Further, I take exception with the idea most felons won't break the law again because they want to be able to vote. That is simply hogwash. Hopefully there are many reasons why a felon will not become a repeat offender but being able vote is most likely not very high on the list.

Posted by: Art Flewallen Location: Bowling Green,Ky. on Mar 6, 2008 at 09:11 AM
If you are tried and convicted of a crime,dont care if you are african American or white,that the law takes away your rights to vote or own a handgun then tough.You arent any better than any body else.What gives you the right to be anymore priveledged than somebody else.JUST BECAUSE OF YOUR COLOR.Cry to somebody else!

Posted by: Marshall Location: Bowling Green on Mar 6, 2008 at 08:54 AM
I worked with felons with the department of justice in Ky. The reasons most went by to crime was wanting drugs and quick bucks. As a Counselor I obtained jobs and schooling for the clients who usually went back to crime. Voting is not the issue.

Posted by: Ellen Location: Bowling Green on Mar 6, 2008 at 08:19 AM
Whites and Asians too who commit felonies are disenfranchised. If you want to vote, don't commit crimes. It's as simple as that.

Posted by: Lisa on Mar 6, 2008 at 07:36 AM
Beshear's motives have nothing to do with the disenfranchisement of the African-American people in KY. It has everything to do with increasing the Democratic vote before the next election. If convicted felons lose their right to vote, it is not because of the color of their skin. It is because they made the decision to break the law and there are consequences for that choice.

Posted by: Mark Location: Bowling Green on Mar 6, 2008 at 07:32 AM
Your article (and its headline) implies race is related to the lost right when in fact it has nothing to do with it. The forfeited right is a consequence of a choice to commit a crime. Nothing more, leave race out of it!