PKG: Felon voting rights restored

PKG: Felon voting rights restored

Not cooperating with investigators.

Thousands of kentuckians with felonies in their pasts are getting the chance to vote in the general election.

For some, it's the first time in years.... if not ever.

Abc 36's monica harkins introduces us to a frankfort woman who says her rights were restored in time for what she believes is one of the most important elections of her lifetime.

L3: abc 36 news white thousands newly eligible to vote in 2020 frankfort ### "debra: just because you make a mistake, doesn't mean that you're worthless."

Some say a paper ballot carries more weight when you don't have it..... than when you do.

"debra: it makes a world of difference and making you feel like a complete person and a member of the society."

Debra graner says when she moved to kentucky with her husband...it wasn't an easy transition and she fell into a depression... " i always kidded the only person i ever talked to on a regular basis was a clerk at rite aid over on the side of town.

" that led to drinking and one night she says a mix of vodka and lighting candles... caught their rental home on fire.

She was convicted of arson in 2012.

She never went to prison... but finished her probation by 2017....two years later...as one of his first acts...governor beshear signed an executive order allowing people with non-violent felony convictions to vote again.

"being able to vote is healing.

And it's just some wonderful experience and i'm so thankful that i was able to vote in the primary."

Now, she works with kentuckians for the commonwealth to make others aware they can vote.

The kentucky branch of the american civil liberties is trying to do the same.

Marcus:a felony is an act.

It's not a person.

Marcus jackson says restoring voting rights is emotional.

"it's an opportunity to get rid of that stigma attached with that incarceration, you can, a lot of people can finally put it behind them.

And that is, and that's huge.

" but in kentucky...this might not be permanant...the next kentucky governor could remove these voting rights as quickly as governor beshear signed them back in.

"marcus: it's a back and forth game and it's confusing to a lot of people, and it can also be traumatic to a lot of people.

" a challenge debra graner says she's not backing down from.

"debra: i'm in this for the long haul.

" in