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September 19, 2006

Rally calls for expanding felons' right to vote / Photo

Journal photo / Bill Murphy
State Rep. Joseph S. Almeida, of Providence, left, speaks at the State House rally in support of the voting rights referendum. Also supporting it were Rep. Thomas C. Slater, also of Providence, center, and former Rep. Maxine Bradford Shavers of Newport, right.

PROVIDENCE -- Koren Carbuccia was in prison for the first two years of her young son's life. The boy, now 4, started preschool today, and Carbuccia wants to vote in the November election to help influence the city council and school committee that will affect her son's public education for years to come in Pawtucket.

But as a convicted felon on probation, she can't.

Carbuccia spoke at a rally this morning at the State House rotunda in favor of a November ballot item, Question 2, that would change the state Constitution and give her the ability to vote.

"The state of Rhode Island won't allow me to be the best parent I can be," she said.

Carbuccia, who is now studying to be a drug counselor at CCRI, was joined at today's rally by a host of state officials including House Majority Leader Gordon Fox, members of the NAACP, the ACLU's Rhode Island chapter, and Providence Police Chief Dean Esserman.

Rhode Island law prohibits convicted felons from voting while on parole or probation, which spans several years in some cases. The amendment would restore the right to vote upon discharge from prison.

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples with reports from Journal staff writer Karen Lee Ziner

Posted by Steve Peoples  at 1:00 PM | Permalink

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