WASHINGTON — Maryland lawmakers have succeeded in overriding a veto on felons鈥� voting rights.聽That means that up to 40,000 residents with felony convictions could be voting in in Maryland鈥檚 April primary.
Perry Hopkins, a Baltimore resident with a felony record says he鈥檒l be able to vote for the first time at the age of 55.
鈥淚 now feel part of the process. I now feel like a weight has been lifted, and that I am just like every other citizen walking around the street,鈥� Hopkins said.
Hopkins says without the ability to vote, he had no voice in a political system that demanded he pay his debt to society by serving time.
鈥淪ince I came home from prison in 2012, in many ways I鈥檝e been alienated by society 鈥� I鈥檝e been paying into a system that makes laws that I can do nothing about,鈥� Hopkins said.
Hopkins says he鈥檚 well aware that many people complain about government without exercising their right to vote.
鈥淚鈥檝e been complaining without the ability to vote. I know what the power of the vote does.鈥�
Hopkins says he is not cynical about the political process. 鈥淚鈥檓 empowered by it,鈥� he says.
Last year, the Maryland General Assembly passed a bill to restore the voting rights of felons that would allow them to vote upon release: before finishing probation or parole. Gov. Larry Hogan 鈥� a Republican 鈥� vetoed that bill.
This year, supporters of the bill pledged to override Hogan鈥檚 veto, but that vote was delayed twice to ensure that there would be enough votes in each chamber for an override. Tuesday, the Senate voted 29-18 to override the veto. Last month members of the House of Delegates voted 85-56 to override Hogan鈥檚 veto.
