Proposed Measure Would Give CA Prisoners Chance To Vote

CALIFORNIA -- Proponents of a proposed measure that would give California prisoners the opportunity to vote was recently cleared to begin collecting signatures.

The Voting Restoration & Democracy Act, by nonprofit Initiate Justice, hopes to eliminate existing restrictions on prisoners or those on parole who want to vote. Eligible voters in California must be citizens, over the age of 18 and cannot be in prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony.

If the initiative is approved by voters in the November 2018 election, the cost to register and provide ballots to prisoners could cost up to $1 million annually. Each county would also spend a few hundred thousand dollars each year, according to the state legislative analyst.

Proponents of the measure must collect the signatures of 585,407 registered voters (eight percent of the total votes cast for Governor in the November 2014 general election) in order to qualify it for the ballot.

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The proponent has 180 days to circulate petitions for the measure, meaning the signatures must be submitted to county elections officials no later than April 25.

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