Court ruling on voting rights of felons in Louisiana expected Monday

A state judge in Baton Rouge is slated to rule Monday on the legality of a four-decades-old Louisiana law that bars felons on probation and parole from voting.

There are roughly 71,000 such persons in the state.

Attorneys for eight individuals and a group called Voice of the Ex-Offender challenged the constitutionality of the 1976 law in a case that's being heard by District Court Tim Kelley.

In recently filed written arguments, lawyers for the plaintiffs and for the state Attorney General's and Secretary of State's offices have given Kelley plenty to chew on as he mulls his decision.

Read more: http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/courts/article_549aadc0-0451-11e7-88a7-13cf68a09068.html