As reported here, long after illegal votes by felons in this state possibly gave Gregoire her slim victory in the 2004 election, voting rights of felons is still an "issue".
Many felons, who had not had their rights to vote restored, voted in the 2004 election (in Washington State, a convicted felon must serve their time, and pay all fines and compensation handed down by the courts, and then petition the courts to have their voting rights restored, before they can register to vote), and now there is a bill in Olympia that would make it easier for felons to vote. There is also a lawsuit pending in King County, that is challenging the state laws restricting felons from voting, which is being supported by the ACLU. The claim is that, even though a felon has completed their sentence and any probation, but cannot pay their fines, are being denied their civil rights by not being able to vote.
That argument is specious in my opinion. Felons committed a crime, and for that, should have their rights curtailed until such time as they have dotted all of the "I's", and crossed all of the "T's" put forth by the courts. After all, they violated the civil rights of their victim, did they not? As the old saying goes, "If you can't do the time (or pay the fine), don't do the crime!".
It is this writers position that, if you are convicted of a felony, you should not be able to vote - period!
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