Convicted felons in Arizona have tough time getting voting rights back

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Tucson News - Channel 13

A person convicted of a felony loses a lot more than just their freedom.

Depending on the state they live in, some have trouble regaining their right to vote long after their release. According to the Pima County Public Defender’s Office, Arizona’s voter restoration policy is one of the most restrictive in the country.

For the 2018 midterm elections, 210,000 Arizonans will not be allowed to vote because of the state’s rules. That’s 4.5 percent of the state’s population. But that doesn’t mean they will never be able to vote, it just takes a whole lot of work and an agreeable judge.

“Just because someone is a convicted felon, does not mean they can never vote again,” said Hannah Recht, a Tucson organizer for Restore Your Vote. In August, the group launched its website to help convicted felons nationwide get their right to vote back. 

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