Measure restores vote to all felons

ANNAPOLIS — Democratic lawmakers, who have long pushed to restore voting rights to Maryland felons, say racial politics and election-year considerations make this the year they open the polls to every ex-convict.

“This law seriously disenfranchises a large number of African-Americans,” said Delegate Salima Siler Marriott, a black Baltimore Democrat who is gathering sponsors for a voting-rights restoration bill she plans to submit.

“Their disenfranchisement impacts the power of African-Americans in this state,” said Mrs. Marriott, whose bill would give all felons the vote immediately upon release from prison.

If Mrs. Marriott’s bill succeeds this time — it has died in committee the past three years — an estimated 150,000 felons would be able to cast ballots in Maryland. About 85,000 of them are black and likely Democrats, according to Justice Maryland, a penal reform group that supports felon voting rights.

These convicted murderers, rapists and armed robbers could vote as early as the Nov. 7 general election, if the law takes effect on the traditional Oct. 1 start date. And felons could sway the results.

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., a Republican, won the 2002 governor’s race by 66,170 votes, according to the Maryland State Board of Elections.

Mr. Ehrlich’s re-election bid this year is expected to be an even closer contest against either of the Democratic candidates — Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley or Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan.

“That might be the line used by Democrats as to why they should support the bill,” said Tara Andrews, executive director of Justice Maryland.

Miss Andrews noted that Mr. Ehrlich, whose criminal justice reforms already have won kudos from black leaders such as hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, could attract the felon vote by not vetoing the bill.

“That’s a very real possibility,” she said.

Mr. Ehrlich “is not inclined to support” giving the vote to all felons immediately upon release, but he will reserve judgment until legislation reaches his desk, said Henry P. Fawell, a spokesman for the governor.

However, he said Mr. Ehrlich supports current law that gives nonviolent, first-time felons the vote after a three-year waiting period, among other restrictions.

Mr. Duncan said he has not taken a position because he needs to research the issue, and Mr. O’Malley said he supports giving felons the vote after a “cooling-off period.”

Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele, a Republican and the first black elected to statewide office in Maryland, has not taken a position on the issue or Mrs. Marriott’s bill, said Leonardo Alcivar, a spokesman for Mr. Steele’s campaign for U.S. Senate.

“He looks forward to studying the specific legislation,” Mr. Alcivar said. “It is a serious issue.”

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