Ballot Measure Lets Parolees Vote

In the last week of June the California Legislature passed a Constitutional Amendment that, if adopted by the voters this November, would give criminals on parole the right to vote in state and federal elections.  Evan Symon of the California Globe reports that ACA 8 passed 28-9 in the Democrat-controlled state senate and is now on its way to the November 3rd ballot.  Spearheading passage of the bill was Northern California Assemblyman Kevin McCarthy, who noted that because a disproportionate number of African Americans are on parole the bar against parolees voting unfairly excludes them.

Senator Jim Nielsen saw things differently, pointing out that among the parolees who would be given the vote are criminals convicted of murder, manslaughter, rape and other violent and serious crimes.  “Part of their sentence is to complete the parole period,” said Nielsen.  McCarthy called the bill “good for democracy and good for public safety.”

I wonder which political party will get the most votes from parolees?