If an attorney conversant with Texas voting law knows anything different - or how I can get around this, please tell me quickly!
Yesterday I wrote an exuberant Diary telling you all that I had just found out that since I was getting off parole this month and the deadline (this Monday) for registration had not passed, I could vote.
That appears not to be true.
I had called my County registrar, spoken to a supervisor, and was told that yes, I could definitely vote.
So today I visited my parole officer, who was very happy for me, printed out my information (showing my discharge date) and gave me her card to give the registrar. I then went straight to the Post Office and picked up a couple of forms - didn't want to mess up.
I carefully read each section and completed the form except for date and signature when this section stopped me dead.
I understand that giving false information to procure voter registration is perjury, and a crime under state and federal law...
I actually knew that already, but...(emphasis mine)
I affirm that I
have not been finally convicted of a felony or if a felon I have completed all of my punishment including any term of incarceration, parole,supervision...
I can't sign that - not today. Nineteen days from now I can, but not today.
So I called the Texas Secretary of State's office, got someone in that division and was told definitely that I cannot register. Registration closes Monday.
It's a big letdown for me - especially after I shot my big mouth off and made the recommended list yesterday. I feel so bad that so many that I made happy yesterday will be disappointed today. I didn't want to tell you at all.
But there is good news. At least one person told me that my Diary prompted them to look up the information for their own state (Here is a link to do that) and had been able to inform two relatives (actually in another state) that they could legally vote - in time to get them registered! I encourage any of you who knows or has relatives who are convicted felons to do the same.
As for me, I have a call in to the Texas ACLU to be absolutely sure that I am really caught in this Catch-22 (If I were registered on November 4, I could vote - but it's illegal for me to register until after the deadline has passed.) There will be other elections for me - and I devoutly hope that this will serve to alert some ex-cons that voting laws have liberalized in many states - including Texas - just not enough to help me - this time.
Update: I am in contact with a lady from the Obama campaign who wants to help - she is in charge of the voting rights division.