Denying Political Rights to “Insurrectionists” (H 5267)

Despite the harmful impact on democracy that the events of January 6, 2021 had, we testified in opposition to a bill which would bar any individual convicted of “sedition, insurrection, rebellion or a felony in relation to such act” from voting, serving as a state employee, or being a candidate for public office. We argued that it was the state Constitution, not the General Assembly, that sets the qualifications for voting and running for office; that the crimes leading to these denials of rights were not defined; and that the breadth of the proposal’s language bears too much a resemblance – however unintentionally – to activities that occurred in this country during the Red Scare.