New laws to voter restoration rights create barriers 

By Vivian Shipe& Jackie Robinson, Urban League’s Work Place Development Specialist. Photos by Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — Ursala Bailey, Knoxville attorney was the key note speaker for the Knoxville Area Urban League’s voter restoration clinic. The Urban League has been holding expungement clinics for citizens desiring to have their rights restored. It is estimated over four million U.S. citizens are unable to vote due to felony records. Expunging their records is one of the processes on the journey back to full citizenship. In Tennessee, that journey has an additional hurdle due to law changes at the beginning of 2024. Individuals must now have their gun rights restored before they get their voting rights back. This law has halted restoration processes in Tennessee. To help, the Urban League brought in Ursala Bailey to explain the process needed and provide resources. The Urban League plans additional restoration clinics in the summer. The post New laws to voter restoration rights create barriers  appeared first on The Tennessee Tribune.