“A lot of the bills didn’t specify what or how someone would prove that they reached the end of their waiting period,” said Moens. “To avoid any sort of potential liability on the voter’s part by certifying that they have met all the conditions, there probably would have to be some sort of documentation or some sort of proof.”
And some of the bills use broad language to describe an “offense” in the waiting period. In Mississippi, 23 felonies disenfranchise you – a waiting period could complicate that without more specific language.
“Any intervening felony committed would make you ineligible, which, in a way, broadens that net,” she said. “If you have gotten to almost the end of the waiting period, and you commit a felony that is not technically on that list, then that puts you back in the position of being disenfranchised.”
But for Mississippi right now, with its lifetime ban, Moens says it’s about moving the needle bit by bit.
“We have a bill with a waiting period: that’s not ideal, we would love to see automatic restoration upon release,” she said. “But does it remove a large chunk of the current crimes that are disenfranchising? Or does it provide automatic restoration upon that waiting period completion?”
“In which case, while it’s not perfect, after five years that is going to meaningfully restore a large number of people’s right to vote in the state.”
Those are all things that state Representative Kabir Karriem had to consider while crafting restoration bills this year – he included five-year waiting periods in his, similar to Louisiana.
