ROCK THE VOTE STATEMENT ON KENTUCKY GOVERNOR’S EXECUTIVE ORDER ON VOTING RIGHTS RESTORATION
Washington, DC – November 24, 2015
Rock the Vote President Ashley Spillane released the following statement following the decision of Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear to sign an executive order on Tuesday that will, according to the Brennan Center, allow over 170,00 Kentuckians with non-violent convictions and who have fully completed their sentences (including probation and parole) the ability to restore their voting rights through a simple rights restoration process.
“We applaud Kentucky Gov. Beshear’s decision to make one of his last acts in office restoring the right to vote to 170,000 Kentucky citizens with past criminal convictions. Democracy works best when all eligible citizens participate and make their voices heard -- including American citizens who live, work and raise families in our communities after serving their time. We hope Iowa and Florida follow Kentucky’s lead, as they are the only two states remaining where those with prior criminal convictions lose their voting rights permanently.”
Nearly 6 million American citizens are unable vote because of a past criminal conviction. As many as 4.4 million of these citizens live, work, and raise families in our communities. But because of a conviction in their past they are still denied this fundamental democratic right. These laws, deeply rooted in our troubled racial history, have a disproportionate impact on minorities. Across the country, 13 percent of African-American men have lost their right to vote, which is seven times the national average.
ABOUT ROCK THE VOTE
Rock the Vote is the largest non-partisan, non-profit organization in the country driving the youth vote to the polls. Since 1990, Rock the Vote has fused pop culture, music, art and technology to fulfill its mission of building long-term youth political power. During the past six Presidential elections, Rock the Vote ran the largest voter registration drives for young people and has partnered with more than 25,000 partners through its online, multi-lingual voter registration tool. Rock the Vote is dedicated to mobilizing the vote, protecting voting rights and advocating for an electoral process and voting system that works for the Millennial generation, America's largest and most diverse population in its history.
Contacts: Kiki Burger | media@rockthevote.com | 202-719-9910