HB 1554

Present law generally provides that a person rendered infamous or deprived of rights of citizenship by the judgment of any state or federal court is eligible to seek restoration of such rights by petitioning the circuit court of the county where the petitioner resides or where the conviction for the infamous crime occurred upon (i ) r eceiving a pardon , (ii) the discharge from custody by reason of service or expiration of the maximum sentence imposed by the court for the infamous crime , or (iii) b eing grante d a certificate of final discharge from supervision by the board of parole or an equivalent discharge by another state, the federal government, or county correction authority. However, certain convicted persons are never eligible to have the right to vote restored in this state. PETITION TO RESTORE RIGHT TO VOTE Present law requires a petition for restoration of rights of citizenship to, among other things and for the purpose of restoring the petitioner's right to vote, i nclude sworn statements by the petitioner demonstrating that the petitioner is eligible for restoration of the right to vote. This bill removes such requirement to provide sworn statements. Present law requires a person whose right to vote has been restored by order of the court to submit a certified copy of the order to the administrator of elections of the county in which the person is eligible to vote. The administrator of elections must verify with the coordinator of elections that the order was issued and, upon receiving the verification, must issue the person a voter registration card entitling the person to vote. This bill removes the requirement that the copy sent to the administrat or of elections must be a certified copy. COSTS Present law requires a ll costs for a proceeding to restore rights of citizenship and for a certificate of employability to be paid by the petitioner , unless waived by the court . This bill removes this requirement and makes such proceedings free for the petitioner.