News & Commentary

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

On October 21 the U.S Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights issued guidance to schools reinforcing the fact that bullying is not to be tolerated in our schools.  The guidance included a reminder that this applies to those students with disabilities.  Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act outline school’s responsibilities to take immediate action to investigate any allegations of bullying and to take steps to stop the bullying and ensure prevention of any reoccurrence. All programs that receive federal funding are mandated to bar discrimination on the basis of disability.

With less than a week until Election Day, it’s important to remember that every vote counts! In order to participate in the democratic process all voters need to understand the rules in our state, register on time, and show up at the correct polling place. Follow these steps to make sure can vote in this year’s election: 

Today, U.S. District Judge Scott Skavdahl declared Wyoming’s ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional

The shooting of an unarmed teen in Ferguson, Illinois brought the reality of the militarization of local police to the forefront of the nightly news and front pages of our newspapers. The ACLU has been investigating this issue, and in June of this year, published the report War Comes Home: – The Excessive Militarization of American Police.

Two weeks ago, in Kitchen v. Herbert, the 10thCircuit Court of Appeals struck down Utah’s constitutional ban on same-sex couples’ ability to marry. The court held that “The Fourteenth Amendment protects the fundamental right to marry, establish a family, raise children, and enjoy the full protection of a state’s marital laws.”

Last week the ACLU of Wyoming staff attended the 26th Annual Conference of the National Consortium on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the Courts hosted by the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation in Cody. Keynote addresses from Honorable Judge Lance Ito, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta, and former U.S. Senator Alan Simpson set the tone for the entire conference. Each of them spoke about their experiences with Heart Mountain, and detailed how these experiences impacted their respective professional careers.

We believe that the character of society should be judged on how we treat our most vulnerable members. The ACLU of Wyoming advocates for the safe and humane treatment of prisoners – both for their sake while they are incarcerated and for society’s sake when they are released.

The Wyoming Legislative session ended last week on a disappointing note with Representatives Bob Nicholas (R- Cheyenne) and Tim Stubson (R-Casper) destroyingSF 28 Post- Conviction actual innocence and SF30 Compensation for persons exonerated based on DNA evidence. Rep. Nicholas amended both bills to include onerous hearing provisions that indicated that he was on a crusade to ensure that those wrongly incarcerated would not be compensated for the miscarriage of justice.  The House members refused to compromise on the amendments in the conference committee which led to both bills being indefinitely postponed. The Casper Star-Tribune, Wyoming Tribune Eagle and WyoFile all wrote excellent articles on this travesty. Both bills started with good support on introduction and an understanding with most legislators and observers that the bills were needed, if not long overdue. It is frustrating to see such willful pique in legislators.