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BIRMINGHAM, AL – SEPTEMBER 25, 2016: Constance "Connie" Todd, 70, received a letter from Jefferson County Commission notifying her that her name would soon be removed from the list of registered voters, as a result of being convicted of "a felony involving moral turpitude."
A recent lawsuit accuses Alabama of bias in response to a law barring some felons from voting. The lawsuit references Amendment 579 of the Alabama Constitution, which disqualifies any individual "convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude” from voting. However, the term “moral turpitude” is only loosely defined, and the decision to permit or prevent voter registration is left to the local registrar. Those bringing the suit against the state claim the law is racially discriminatory, indefensibly vague and flagrantly unconstitutional, and has left more than 250,000 adults in the state ineligible to vote. Roughly 15 percent of Alabama's black voting age population are disenfranchised by the law, compared to fewer than 5 percent of whites.
CREDIT: Bob Miller for The New York Times
A recent lawsuit accuses Alabama of bias in response to a law barring some felons from voting. The lawsuit references Amendment 579 of the Alabama Constitution, which disqualifies any individual "convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude” from voting. However, the term “moral turpitude” is only loosely defined, and the decision to permit or prevent voter registration is left to the local registrar. Those bringing the suit against the state claim the law is racially discriminatory, indefensibly vague and flagrantly unconstitutional, and has left more than 250,000 adults in the state ineligible to vote. Roughly 15 percent of Alabama's black voting age population are disenfranchised by the law, compared to fewer than 5 percent of whites.
CREDIT: Bob Miller for The New York Times
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- Bob Miller
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