Felony Voting Rights Restored in Washington state

Effective January 1st 2022, if you were convicted of a felony in Washington state, another state, or in federal court, your right to vote will be restored.

This is a significant change in the law, as previously, felons were permanently denied the right to vote in Washington state.

The new law was passed by the Washington State Legislature in 2021 and signed by Governor Jay Inslee. It is part of a growing trend across the country to restore voting rights to felons. In recent years, several other states, including California, New York, and Virginia, have passed similar laws.

Advocates for felon voting rights argue that it is a matter of basic fairness. They point out that felons have already paid their debt to society by serving their time in prison. Denying them the right to vote, they argue, only serves to further disenfranchise them and make it more difficult for them to reintegrate into society.

Opponents of felon voting rights argue that it is a matter of public safety. They argue that felons should not be allowed to vote because they may not be trustworthy or responsible enough to make informed decisions about who to vote for.

The debate over felon voting rights is a complex one, with strong arguments on both sides. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to decide whether or not they believe felons should have the right to vote.