Chattanooga Times Free Press
NASHVILLE — The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Tennessee filed a petition Wednesday asking the U.S. Court of Appeals to rehear a case challenging a law that denies voting rights to convicted felons who owe money associated with their convictions or for child support.
The ACLU claims that the state law violates the U.S. and Tennessee Constitutions.
A three-judge panel dismissed the case earlier in a 2-1 decision. Now the ACLU is asking the full Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit to hear the case. The 6th Circuit is based in Cincinnati.
“Denying voting rights to those who have served their time based solely on their inability to pay a particular debt amounts to unconstitutional discrimination,” Nancy Abudu, senior staff counsel with the ACLU Voting Rights Project, said in a news release.
The ACLU brought the case on behalf of three people who were convicted of felonies and who have completed their terms of imprisonment, parole and probation.
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