why voting is important referral contact …...get back your right to vote a guide to help former...

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Why Voting is Important Yourvoteisyourvoice.Itisafundamentalrightandthecornerstoneofourdemocracy.ItgivesuspowerandletsusplayapartinAmericanpoliticallife.TheUnitedStatesistheonlydemocracythatdeniesvotingrightstoasmanycitizensaswedo,foraslongaswedo.Whenyoutakeawaythevotingrightsofpeoplewhohavefelonyconvictions,itreducestheprospectsforsuccessfulrehabilitationandreintegrationintothecommunity.Todenytherighttovotetoex-felonsistantamounttotaxationwithoutrepresentation.

Consider These FactsPuertoRico,MaineandVermontguaranteetherighttovotetoallcitizens,incarceratedornot.

13states,alongwiththeDistrictofColumbia,allowparoleesandprobationerstovote.

Nearly5.3millionAmericanscannotvotebecauseoffelonyconvictions.

Nationally,585,000veterans,whohaveriskedtheirlivesforthiscountry,andmorethan676,000womenhavelosttheirvotingrightsbecauseoffelonyconvictions.

Arizona’sfelonvotingbanhasstrippedmorethan176,103peopleoftheirrighttovote.

Referral Contact Information

Phoenix

MiddleGroundPrisonReformInc.(480)966-8116

NAACPofMaricopaCounty–LegalRedress(602)252-4064

Tucson

AmericanFriendsServiceCommittee(520)623-9141

PrimaveraFoundation(520)623-5111,ext.104

Published by:TheACLUofArizonaCampaigntoRestoretheVoteP.O.Box17148Phoenix,AZ85011-0148602-650-1967www.acluaz.org

Thisbrochureisaresource,notlegaladvice,forformerfelons.IthasbeenadaptedfrommaterialsprovidedbytheACLUofTennesseeandAmericanFriendsServiceCommittee.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Arizonaisthestate’spremierguardianofliberty,workingdailyinthecourts,legislatureandcommunitiestodefendandpreservetheindividualrightsandfreedomsguaranteedbytheConstitutionandthelawsoftheUnitedStatesandArizona.

Get Back Your Right to Vote

A guide to help former felons in Arizona

InArizona,thegovernmenttakesawayyourrighttovoteinstateorfederalelectionsifyouhavebeenconvictedofmorethanonefelony,butyoucanapplyforrestorationofyourrighttovote.Thefollowinginformationexplainshowtoregainyourcivilrights,includingyourrighttovote.

Automatic Restoration (One Felony) Foryourfirstandonlyone-countfelonyconviction,youautomaticallyregainyourcivilrightsuponabsolutedischargefromtheArizonaDepartmentofCorrectionsand/orcompletionofallaspectsofyourprobation.Inaddition,youmustpayallcourt-orderedfinesbeforeregisteringtovote,evenifyouwereconvictedofonlyonefelony. Restorationofyourcivilrightsincludesyourrighttovote,toserveonajuryandtorunforpublicoffice.Thegovernmentdoesnotautomaticallyrestoreyourrighttopossessfirearms.

Judicial Restoration (Two or More Felonies) Ifyouhavemultiplefelonyconvictionsandservedtimeinastatecorrectionalinstitute,youmustwaittwo yearsfromthedateyouobtainanabsolutedischargetoapplyforyourrightstoberestored.Youmusthaveyour“CertificateofAbsoluteDischarge”tosubmittothecourtwhereyouweresentencedforrestorationofrights.Ifyouhavemultiplecourtcases,youmustfileseparatelyforeachone. Ifyouhavemultiplefeloniesandservedprobation,you do not havetowaittwoyearstoapply.Yourrighttovotemayberestoredbythecourtthatdischargedyoufromprobation. Arizonalawrequiresprobationofficersorcourtshandlingyourprobationtonotifyyou,inwriting,oftheprocessforrestoringyourrighttovote. Youshouldworkwithyourprobationofficerupontheterminationofyourprobationtorestoreyourcivilrightssolongasyouhavecompletedanyrestitutionandpaidallcourt-orderedfines.

What if I was convicted of a federal crime? InArizona,thesamerulesapplyforfirsttime

offenderswhetheryouwereconvictedofafederalorstatecrime.That

means,ifyouwereconvictedoftwoormorefederalcrimes,

you’reeligibletoapplyforrestorationafterwaitingtwoyearsfromthedateofyourabsolutedischarge.Insteadofapplyingtothesentencingcourt,however,youmustapply

forrestorationofyourvotingrightswiththepresidingjudge

oftheSuperiorCourtwhereyoureside.

What if I was convicted in another state? TherearenoprovisionsinArizonalawforrestorationofanyrightsthatmayhavebeenlostasaresultofafelonyconvictioninanotherstate.Sinceeachstatehasitsownrulesforvoting,you’llhavetocontactthestateelectionsofficewhereyouwereconvicted.Forvotingrightsinformationindifferentstates,visithttp://www.democracysghosts.com/states/states.html.

Step One: Absolute Discharge Ifyouhavebeenincarceratedinstateprison,thefirststeptowardrestoringyourrightsistogeta“CertificateofAbsoluteDischarge”fromtheArizonaDepartmentofCorrections(ADC).Youcandothisassoonasyouhavecompletedallofthetermsofyoursentence,includingpayingallcourtfinesandrestitution.Toseeifyouoweanyoutstandingfines,calltheclerkofthecourtwhereyouweresentenced. Torequestyour“CertificateofAbsoluteDischarge,”call602-542-3277orwritetoATTN: Arizona Department of Corrections, 1601 W. Jefferson, M/C 112, Phoenix, AZ 85007.Youshouldreceivearesponseinthemailwithin3-6weeks. YOUMUSTATTACHACOPYOFYOURABSOLUTEDISCHARGECERTIFICATETOYOURAPPLICATIONFORRESTORATIONOFCIVILRIGHTS.

Step Two: File Paperwork OnceyouhavereceivedyourCertificateofAbsoluteDischargefromtheADC,andtwoyearshavepassedfromthedateofyourabsolutedischarge,youcanfileyourcivilrightsrestorationapplicationwiththeClerkoftheSuperiorCourtofficeinthecountywhereyouwereoriginallysentenced. You can obtain a civil rights restoration application by visiting your local county clerk’s office. PLEASENOTE:Youwillneedtolistallcasenumbers,andattachacopyoftheabsolutedischargepaperworkfor eachsentencelisted. ThereisnofeeforfilinganapplicationforrestorationofcivilrightsinArizonaandyoudonotneedalawyer.

County Clerk’s Offices

ClerkofSuperiorCourt201W.JeffersonSt.Phoenix,AZ85003(602)506-0547(forinstructionsonly)

InMaricopa,applicationscanonlybeobtainedinpersonattheclerk’sofficeoron-lineathttp://www.clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov/faxondemand/300.pdf

ClerkofSuperiorCourt110W.CongressSt.CriminalDepartmentRoom152Tucson,AZ85701-1317(520)740-3278