If approved by both houses, the measure would go to voters in November 2006 to change the provision within the state Constitution that bars felons from voting until they have completed parole or probation.

09:10 AM EDT on Wednesday, June 22, 2005

BY AMANDA MILKOVITS
Journal Staff Writer

PROVIDENCE -- The House Judiciary Committee unanimously approved twin bills that would add thousands of people to the voting rolls -- convicted felons serving probation or parole.

State law now prohibits felons from voting until their sentences are completed.

But a strong push by lobbyists from advocacy groups and the felons themselves got the attention of the committee and swift approval yesterday.

As he recommended approving the bills, committee Chairman Robert E. Flaherty, D-Warwick, referred to the overwhelming support and testimony from dozens at the committee's hearing on the bill in April. The full Senate also overwhelmingly approved its version of the bill last month.

With no discussion yesterday, the committee voted to approve both the Senate and House versions of the bills. Both will head to the House floor for a vote.

If approved, the matter would go to voters in November 2006 to change the provision within the state Constitution that bars felons from voting until the end of their sentences.

Some of the people who've been lobbying hard for the bills are the same ones who won't be able to vote on it if it makes the ballot.

One such person is Andres Idarraga, 27, who served seven years in prison for dealing cocaine and attempting to bribe a state trooper.

When he got out, he went to work and enrolled in school, making the dean's list at the University of Rhode Island and then getting accepted into Brown University.

But he has three years of parole and 27 years of probation to serve. He'll be 54 by the time he can cast his first vote.

Rhode Island is the only state in New England where felons aren't allowed to vote during the duration of their sentence.

The restriction on voting rights originated from a voter-approved amendment to the state Constitution in 1986.

At the time, felons who'd completed their sentences had to petition the General Assembly to get their voting rights back. The amendment automatically reinstated their voting rights at the end of their sentences.

But the legislators didn't foresee 20 years ago the changes in sentencing and the lengthening of probation and paroles over time, said H. Philip West Jr., director of Common Cause of Rhode Island.

The bills have found little opposition. "Those who are unsympathetic may have a stereotype that these are bad people," West said.

But, especially in the cities, these are neighbors.

There are 15,500 Rhode Islanders who can't vote because they are still serving probation or parole sentences, according to a report by the Family Life Center, an agency in South Providence that helps newly released prisoners integrate back into society.

One in five black men, and one in 11 Hispanic men are barred from voting because they are serving their sentences, according to the report.

And it becomes a neighborhood issue, West says.

Most of those on probation or parole are living in cities. In South Providence alone, more than 10 percent of the residents are convicted felons on probation or parole, and are unable to vote.

Turned around, if allowed to vote, these residents will become invested in their neighborhoods -- as they are meant to do during probation, said Marshall Clement, one of the authors of the report.

Probation was not meant to be punishment, but to allow the released prisoners to reenter society, Clement said after the committee meeting.

"If that's the goal, we have to facilitate that process, and it makes sense to re-enfranchise people," Clement said.