News & Commentary

Congress can take action now to strengthen voter protections that have been weakened by the Supreme Court to ensure that every American vote counts this November.

During the 2015 Legislative Session, the ACLU of Wyoming was hard at work advocating for civil rights and fighting bills that threaten our freedoms.

Studies have shown, time and again, that drug testing is ineffective at deterring alcohol and drug use among young people.

 

The National Park Service is culling bison in the Stephens Creek area of Yellowstone National Park, and it has blocked off a seven-mile radius around its culling activities, denying access to the public. Members of the Buffalo Field Campaign and a freelance investigative journalist concerned about the welfare of bison have repeatedly requested permission to view the culling activities, only to be met with the assertion that the seven-mile distance constitutes “access.” Although the Park Service allowed the media to observe the culling activities from within a naked-eye view in the past, for the last few years they have shut off public scrutiny of their activities.

SF14 is a bill that would prohibit law enforcement from seizing private property unless they are charged and convicted with a felony.  The Heritage Foundation’s web site defines civil asset forfeiture in this way:  “Civil asset forfeiture is a legal tool that allows law enforcement officials to seize property that they assert has been involved in certain criminal activity. In fact, the owner of the property doesn’t even need to be guilty of a crime:…….. This means that police can seize your car, home, money or valuables without ever having to charge you with a crime.”

It’s time for Wyoming lawmakers to have a serious conversation about enacting sensible reforms when it comes to our state’s marijuana policies.

As United States citizens we have the ability to cast a vote in elections to voice our opinion with regard to who we believe will best represent our community. But if you’re a convicted felon, that right can be taken away.  In a democracy, voting is a right, not a privilege. Yet in our country, well over five million citizens are unable to participate in this most basic, fundamental right of citizenship. For example, Kelli Jo Griffin, a mother from Iowa, lost her voting rights when she was convicted of a nonviolent drug offense. Griffin completed the terms of her probation, and turned her life around.  But when she brought her kids to her polling place to show them how we vote, she was arrested and charged with voter fraud. At trial, the jury acquitted Griffin, but she is still unable to vote. Iowa’s extreme disfranchisement policy permanently bars ex- felons from voting, which the ACLU is challenging in court.  This story signifies that even nonviolent felons are being blocked from casting their vote, a right we hold so dearly. In Wyoming, we have proposed legislation that will be debated in the upcoming session that would automatically restore the right to vote for one-time, non-violent felons, following completion of their sentence. The benefits of voting are significant. Research demonstrates that individuals who vote are more likely to be involved in their communities, and for those with felony convictions, participating in the voting process is consistent with a reduced likelihood of re-arrest.  In Wyoming, individuals convicted of a single non-violent felony can have their voting rights restored five years after completion of sentence. Individuals with more than one conviction- even if non-violent- have their voting rights permanently removed unless they are restored by the governor, which rarely happens. As citizens of Wyoming, we understand that voting is a fundamental right and part of our civic duty, and we need to restore a political voice for those who have completed their sentences for mistakes they made. To do so will strengthen our community and honor our democracy. Click here to read more about Wyoming's current laws on restoration of voting rights, or here to learn more about the ACLU’s work to protect voting rights. Hannah NeroneACLU of Wyoming Intern