Voting rights bill headed to governor

Washington state may join many other states which restored voting rights to people convicted of a felony offense if a bill is signed into law during this year’s state legislative session.

Under House Bill 1078, those who are convicted of a felony would get their voting rights restored “when they are not serving a sentence of total confinement under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections,” according to the bill’s text.

HB 1078 would also remove current provisions that allow the revocation of an individual’s voting rights if they fail to pay any legal financial obligations, like crime victims’ compensation fees and other things, according to the bill’s text.

Rep. Tarra Simmons, D-Bremerton, is HB 1078’s primary sponsor. The bill is also backed by Republican support from Rep. Jesse Young, R-Gig Harbor. The Senate passed HB 1078 on Wednesday in a 27-22 vote. The House passed the bill on Feb. 24 in a 57-41 vote.

Garth Dano, prosecuting attorney at Grant County, said in an interview with the Herald he is personally opposed to HB 1078 because it automatically restores voting rights and removes provisions on the payment of legal financial obligations.

“I’m opposed to restoring voting rights to convicted felons until they have paid all of their debt to society and that includes paying the financial obligations that they’re required to pay,” Dano said.

Sen. Sam Hunt, D-Olympia, said during a virtual floor debate Wednesday HB 1078 creates a bright line for those who are convicted of a felony. Other states already have laws in place that are similar to the bill, he said.

“It’s about restoring the right to vote on a bright line so that our county auditors and our Secretary of State and other election officials have an easy … way to determine if somebody is eligible to exercise the right to vote,” Hunt said.

Grant County Auditor Michele Jaderlund wrote in an email to the Herald HB 1078 would “help eliminate confusion” on which people who are convicted of a felony are allowed to vote.

“My personal feelings about this bill is if it helps to clarify a cloudy situation it is a good thing,” Jaderlund wrote in the email. “My job is to ensure transparency.”

Sen. Patty Kuderer, D-Bellevue, said during the virtual floor debate HB 1078 would remove barriers to voting, especially to those who were convicted of a felony. Voting is a sacred and fundamental right, and it is how the state’s democracy functions, she said.

HB 1078 also addresses a racial equity problem, Kuderer said. Communities of color are often disenfranchised and there are racial inequities apparent in institutions and policies, which must be fixed, she said.

“I know that the solutions to our racial equity problems will come from many different places,” Kuderer said. “HB 1078 is one of those solutions.”

Dano said taxpayers in Grant County pay for its criminal justice system. Under HB 1078, they would have to pay for the legal financial obligations the defendants incur, which makes him “sick,” he said.

“I’m tired of this society and tired of people not paying what they’re legally obligated to do,” Dano said.

Dano is not opposed to people getting their voting rights reinstated just as long as they pay for all of their financial obligations, receive a certificate of discharge by the respective court and obtain a court order restoring their voting rights.

“I’m very concerned as a voter in this country watching this nonsense go on where we expand voting rules to include everybody,” Dano said.

Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, had an amendment to HB 1078 that would prohibit voting rights to those placed in confinement for a community custody violation. It was not adopted to the bill.

“There’s been a lot of discussions today about bright lines,” Warnick said. “I think if someone who is out on community custody violates that custody and has to go back, that bright line is very, very blurred.”

Sen. Manka Dhingra, D-Redmond, said during the virtual floor debate individuals spend their time in community custody in different ways. Warnick’s amendment is “simply not workable” considering how the criminal justice system works.