Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday and spoke with host David Gregory about the need for the Republican party to focus on “enhancing the vote” of the American people.
Specifically, Paul explained that up to a million people in the country are prevented from voting because they have been convicted of a felony.
“I have a friend whose brother, 30 years ago, grew marijuana plants in college,” the Kentucky senator explained. “He made a mistake; he probably would tell you now it’s a mistake. He still can’t vote and every time he goes to get a job, he has to check a box that says ‘convicted felon.'”
Paul emphasized the need for Republicans to stand up for these individuals and give them a chance to participate in America’s decisions.
“If we’re the party of family values and keeping families together and a party that believes in redemption and second chances, we should be for letting people have the right to vote back,” he asserted.
In order to combat this issue, Paul plans to introduce a bill that will enable between a half a million and a million American individuals convicted of non-violent felonies in the past regain their right to vote.
“We’ve had all kinds of discussion about voter ID and all that,” the senator expanded, “but what is really the most important issue not enough people are talking about is that a million people are prevented from voting, literally and legally prevented from voting, because they have a previous conviction. So I think that’s a bigger issue than all the other stuff.”
Watch the entire “Meet the Press” interview below.
