Right to Register and Vote; conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude as an exception; remove - CA
Summary
SR 483 proposes a constitutional amendment to remove one category of voting disqualification in Georgia: a conviction for a felony involving moral turpitude. Under current constitutional language, a person convicted of such a felony may not register, remain registered, or vote until completion of the sentence. The resolution would delete that exception from the list of voting restrictions, while leaving intact the separate restriction for people judicially determined to be mentally incompetent unless the disability has been removed.
If ratified by voters, the amendment would change Georgia’s Constitution rather than ordinary statute, and the revised ballot language would ask voters whether the Constitution should be amended to remove felony convictions involving moral turpitude as an exception to the right to register and vote. The measure would therefore expand voting eligibility for some people with felony convictions, depending on how the state interprets and applies the remaining election-law and criminal-sentence rules.
The available record shows no committee transcript, vote tally, or recorded floor debate, so there is no direct evidence of legislative support or opposition in the materials provided. The bill’s overall purpose suggests a voting-rights expansion and criminal-justice reform approach, but the context does not show whether it advanced or stalled in committee.
The main point of contention is likely the policy choice of restoring voting rights to people convicted of felonies involving moral turpitude. Supporters would view the proposal as broadening democratic participation and reducing disenfranchisement, while opponents may argue that certain felony convictions should continue to limit voting rights. The text itself does not define moral turpitude or alter the mental-incompetency exception, so any debate would likely focus on the scope of disenfranchisement and the meaning of the removed exception.
Impact
This resolution would amend Article II, Section I of the Georgia Constitution by eliminating the provision that disenfranchises people convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude until completion of sentence. It would affect election eligibility rules for affected individuals and would require voter ratification before becoming effective. The separate constitutional exception for persons judicially determined mentally incompetent would remain unchanged.
Sentiment
No committee discussion or vote history is provided, so the record does not show measured support or opposition. Based on the text alone, the measure appears to be framed as a voting-rights expansion, which typically draws support from reform advocates and resistance from those favoring continued felony-based disenfranchisement. The available materials do not indicate any formal sentiment from legislators.
Contention
The central issue is whether Georgia should continue to bar people convicted of felonies involving moral turpitude from registering or voting until sentence completion. Supporters would likely argue that the restriction is overly broad and unnecessarily limits civic participation, while opponents would likely defend it as a legitimate consequence of serious criminal conduct. The bill does not address the mental-incompetency exception, so that provision is not a point of dispute in the text provided.