by KYW's Tony Romeo
Contrary to what some people believe, convicted felons who have served their time now have the right to vote in Pennsylvania.
It used to be that convicted felons had to wait five years before having their voting rights restored in Pennsylvania – and that’s part of the reason for the confusion, says Jennine Miller of Project H.O.M.E. in Philadelphia:
“That right to vote has been back in place for eight years now, and when we’re out in the community, we still find that that right rumor and that myth around people who have felony convictions – we find that that is a still a common misconception, that people think that they still can’t vote.”
Another reason for confusion is that laws vary from state to state. In New Jersey, for example, people who’ve been convicted of an indictable offense cannot vote until completing probation or parole.
In Pennsylvania, convicted felons on probation or parole can vote, as can people in prison awaiting trial, and those serving time for misdemeanors.
For more information, go to www.dos.state.pa.us.
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