Feb. 9: The Maryland Senate voted 29-18 to override Gov. Larry Hogan's veto of a bill that give felons the right to vote while still on parole or probation.

Advertisement Maryland Senate overrides Gov. Larry Hogan's veto of felons voting bill Bill gives felons right to vote before they complete parole, probation Share Shares Copy Link Copy

The state Senate voted Tuesday to override Gov. Larry Hogan's veto of a bill allowing felons to vote while still on parole and probation.Released felons now have the right to vote in Maryland as soon as they leave prison. They no longer have to wait until after they make good on restitution and finish probation or parole.The Senate voted 29-18 to override the governor's veto but not before spirited and respectful debate."We are in the process of trying to re-assimilate and re-integrate people who have essentially been made exiles in the state of Maryland," said Sen. Jamie Raskin, D-Montgomery County."I look at this bill and I look at two words: law and rights. Somebody breaks the law, they lose rights," said Sen. Johnny Ray Salling, R-Baltimore County.The governor vetoed the bill last spring, saying he doesn't believe felons should have the right to vote until their entire sentence is complete."Let me say my motivation for the bill was the fact that 72 to 76 percent of those in prison are ethnic minorities," said Sen. Joan Carter Conway, D-Baltimore City.Sen. Joanne Benson, D-Prince George's County, said she got out of her sick bed to vote and counter stereotypes of felons."Some of them have master degrees, have Ph.D.s. They are husbands, they are family members and they do not have the opportunity to vote," Benson said.Sen. Craig Zucker, D-Montgomery County, cast the deciding vote and provided some drama to the process because he got to vote twice, once as a House member, then as a new senator. The Montgomery County Central Committee recommended Zucker and the governor officially appointed him to a vacant Senate seat. The state attorney general issued an opinion declaring there's no legal reason he can't vote as a delegate and now as a senator."(It's) very constitutional. There's no uncertainty in terms of it not being able to be done," Senate President Mike Miller said.Republican leaders seized on wording that left the door open to interpretation."They muddy the waters when they get into a couple of court cases saying that the Legislature needs to be distinct and that the two bodies can't overlap. The fact that one member who voted on the bill now is voting in the second body, I think it's wrong," Senate Minority Leader J.B. Jennings said.State Republican Party officials said, at the very least, Zucker could have recused himself.The voting law takes effect in 30 days.