One Time Felon, Arkansas, Get your Right to Vote Restored.

LillyGrillzit© copyright all rights reserved Feb 12, 2011 Updated March 16, 2013

This article is presenting this information one-time felons, or the families of one-time felons who have paid their debt to society; having served their time.

Arkansas State residents may have heard something about this, but do not know what steps to take to have their rights restored. .

"Restoration of Voting and Election Rights Program: Helping Those who Have Paid Their Debt to Society" is a Pulaski County, Arkansas Document produced on 01-07. This information is public domain, but if a reader is eligible for this program, they must request a booklet of their own.

The last page of the booklet available from the Pulaski County Clerks office, in Little Rock, Arkansas is informational, and a provides space for the individual to keep notes on who all those they have contacted, with the information needed for follow-ups.

The writer holds no liability for the information contained within this Hub.

This is a public service for those who live in, or are part-time residents of the State of Arkansas.

This is an article directed toward those one time felons, who have paid their debt to society, and are still paying the price by not being able to vote, or because they must disclose their felony status on job applications.

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* The address for obtaining the booklet needed can be found in the map capsule near the bottom of this page.

For those who have paid their debt to society, it is especially hard to rejoin the outside world, and attempt to 1). Survive, and 2). fit in, and feel like a contributing member of society.

As an American, I have witnessed the number of American citizens facing imprisonment increasing exponentially during the last few decades. The numbers of American Citizens being incarcerated are over 6,000,000 individuals in the US prisons systems. These are multiple agencies, from Federal on down to the County or Parrish jails. The other 1,000,000 who are in-the-system, are considered violent and repeat offenders.

6,000,000 US Citizens have been convicted as felons, and are in some phase of the corrections system. Convicts are either going in, coming out, or out on parole/probation. The hoops a man or woman must jump through to serve their time, be rehabilitated, and released back into society are many and varied.

We often hear the statistics of Americans imprisoned or within the prison /parole systems in North America, but not a lot is published about the families and loved ones of felons. Families of those going through the corrections systems, end up paying a high price for loving or being related to a person who has been convicted of a felony. While a family member is incarcerated it is hard on the family as well..

For felons to be able to successfully complete rehabilitation, they must have a support system.

There is greater pressure on the families of ex-cons who have learned from their mistakes. It is as difficult for them to find jobs, as those who are career criminals.

An aspect of betterment and rehabilitation for a one-time felon is that they have their voting rights restored. This gives them a voice in the political system, and realize they once more have a say - a Vote.

When an individual, (and their family), have finally navigated the countless obstacles presented to the ex-convict, they find that many obstacles were created by the State/Federal/Local employees and/or the system they must work within.

Sometimes those who regulate and jail offenders, are on the criminal side themselves.

A person who really wants to do better faces the worst odds.

After doing their time, and finally getting released as a citizen who has paid their debt that the legal system, society required of him or her...they must continue to bring this mistake up again and again.

In some States, there are allowances for those who have paid their debt, to restore their voting privileges and expunge their records once and for all.

States that offer this relief, in most cases, an ex-con would no longer be required to bring that past history to light. They will not have to disclose this on an employment application.

It is done. It is over.

Many families suffer years because their loved one messed up.

What a relief it is to know that there is some mercy out there for those who learned their lesson, and want to be a contributing member of society, remembering this mistake as a bad dream..

The best of luck to every person receiving their freedom today, yesterday and many years ago. I hope that relief and decent breaks happen for you.

That you get your life and rights back once more, for this new and free life where you are now, helping, and contributing to your community and family.

Voter Eligibility Requirements:

• US Citizen and a resident of Arkansas
• Be of age (18)
• Must be competent
• Vote in county you live in
• No felons whose sentences are outstanding

In Arkansas the State Constitution allows persons who have paid their debt to society to have their right to vote restored. The Amendment to the State Constitution that allows this is [Amendment 51,§11(2)(A)(B)(C)(D)].
In order for the felon who has paid their debt to society to be restored, all fines, court costs and restitution must be paid. Once all of these things have been finalized and the person requesting relief brings proof, the process becomes easier.
Now that everything is finalized

1. Bring the Proof that all debts, and time is paid in full
2. Submit this to the County Clerk's office where the felon resides
3. Complete and Arkansas Voter Registration

If this process is approved, the individual will be added to the voters rolls.
The last stop is Expunging Your Record

Under Arkansas Code Annotated 16-90-601-§16-90-605;§16-90-901:§16-90-906;§16-93-301;§16-93-303 A felon has the right to petition the court to have the records of their conviction sealed, once all of the terms of the sentence are complete.

Those eligible to petition are:

• 1st time, non-violent offenders
• Completed all probation and parole requirements
• Paid all fines, costs, probation, fees etc.

The final step to being restored after paying their entire debt to society is to Petition to Seal Your Record.

• Visit the Civil/Criminal Division of the Pulaski County Clerks office
• Request a Petition to Seal form
• Complete the form.
• Return the form to the Clerk's office

The Advantages are

1. Cursory checks into your background will show no prior conviction
2. You will be allowed to state you have never been convicted of a felony
3. Upon re-entering society you have completed your sentence in its entirety