why voting is important referral contact …...get back your right to vote a guide to help former...
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FRONT COVERBACK COVERFOLD-IN PANEL
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