Whereas Washington State has the most restrictions on voting by
ex-felons in the nation, worse than any other state,

Whereas ex-felons in Washington State cannot vote until after they have
paid in full all restitution and fees, resulting in more than 15,000
citizens being disenfranchised every year,

Whereas hundreds of felons who have paid their debts do not get their
voting rights restored due to inadvertent bureaucratic errors,

Whereas the American Correctional Association (ACA) has called for
ending the practice of withholding voting rights from parolees and
people who have completed their prison terms,

Whereas current laws serve no correctional purpose and can contribute
to recidivism by excluding ex-felons and their families from the civic
mainstream,

Whereas requiring payment of all legal financial obligations (debts)
prior to voting may be deemed a poll tax,

Whereas other people with debt are allowed to vote,

Be it resolved that voting rights of ex-offenders are restored upon
release from incarceration.