This Louisville resident cannot vote but is devoted to helping others do so
Today is the last day Kentuckians can register to vote in next month’s presidential election.
The ballot will also include two constitutional amendments, and legislative and congressional races. Residents can check their voting status at govote.ky.gov or return a voter registration card to their local county clerk’s office by 4 p.m. local time.
Wendolyn Gray, voter empowerment democracy champion for the group Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, said she is devoted to the issue after losing her own right to vote for a past nonviolent felony offense. Gray said she is now dedicated to ensuring all Kentuckians have what they need to exercise their right to vote.
“I’m trying to build a legacy for my children and grandchildren, since I do not have the power to vote myself,” Gray explained. “If we can get that collectively together in our minds, that we hold the power, we can make a big change.”
The General Election is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Early voting runs from Oct. 23-25. Registered voters can vote absentee if they meet certain criteria and cannot vote during the early voting period or on Election Day. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Oct. 22.
Gray pointed out after she has served out her probation period and completed restitution, she can begin the process of working to restore her voting rights.
“Then, I can petition individually to get a pardon from the governor,” Gray outlined. “That takes some time and some money.”
In 2019, Gov. Andy Beshear signed an executive order restoring rights to some people with past felony convictions who have completed their full sentence. According to the ACLU of Kentucky, roughly 175,000 Kentuckians with past felony convictions are eligible to vote.
Support for this reporting was provided by The Carnegie Corporation of New York.
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