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"I think being able to vote would do a whole lot for these young guys on parole… Right now they think nobody is going to listen to them, and feel as though what they say don't matter." –Stephen Taylor
Governor Hogan told legislative leaders that the current law, which enfranchises felons only when parole and probation are up, "achieves the proper balance between repayment of obligations to society for a felony conviction and the restoration of the various restricted rights." (Hogan's office declined VICE's request for further comment.)But the politician is going up against a growing body of research that suggests removing voting restrictions earlier offers critical benefits to ex-cons.Carl Wicklund, executive director of the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA), which represents 40,000 people in pretrial, probation, parole, and community corrections, testified in support of the Maryland bill's passage. There is "no credible evidence that continuing to disenfranchise people who have rejoined the community serves any legitimate law enforcement purpose," Wicklund said. Moreover, the APPA argues civic participation is integral to successful rehabilitation and reintegration efforts. Given that voting remains the most potent symbol of participation in our democracy and civil society, restoring that right for ex-felons represents a powerful demonstration of civic redemption. Wicklund also cites one recent study that finds voting within a package of pro-social behavior that is linked to a decrease in crime.
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