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6 charged with illegal voting in St. Louis County

Photo: Vladimir Cetinski, Photos.com

Aug 18, 2011 at 11:28 am

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) - Six people in St. Louis County have been charged with voting in elections while still on probation from felony convictions.

Under Minnesota law, people convicted of felonies are ineligible to vote until their civil rights have been restored. Generally, that means they have to wait until they serve their prison terms along with any subsequent time on probation.

All six are accused of casting votes in the November 2008 general election despite being ineligible. The felony charge carries a maximum prison sentence of five years, but convictions typically result in probation.

A Duluth News Tribune report says probation officers are supposed to inform people in their charge of the civil rights they've lost, and remind them after probation has ended that their right to vote has been restored.