WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- The U.S. Supreme Court Monday left in place a lower-court ruling that said felons may cite racial bias to challenge a Washington law denying them the vote.
A group of six current and former prison inmates -- four blacks, one American Indian and one Hispanic -- challenged a provision of the Washington state Constitution that denies the vote to all persons "convicted of an infamous crime," one in which the penalty is death or imprisonment.
However, a section of the state code also allows felons to regain the franchise after they have served their time. The re-enfranchisement is left up to the state, and none of the inmate group regained his vote.
Without ruling on the merits, a three-judge appeals panel said the challengers could use the Voting Rights Act in their suit.
About 1.4 million black men across the country have lost the franchise because of such laws in the 48 states that take the vote away, at least temporarily, from convicted felons.
