Opinion ID: 2452328
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Disenfranchisement

Text: ¶ 21 Donaghe argues that if he is unable to obtain a certificate of discharge while confined at the SCC, then his civil commitment procedure punitively and unconstitutionally disenfranchises him and other SCC residents, possibly for the rest of their lives. The State responds that Donaghe's disenfranchisement arises from his felony conviction, not his civil commitment. The Court of Appeals agreed with the State, and so do we. ¶ 22 Article VI, section 3 of the Washington Constitution specifically disenfranchises convicted felons: All persons convicted of infamous crime unless restored to their civil rights and all persons while they are judicially declared mentally incompetent are excluded from the elective franchise. ¶ 23 Convicted felons remain without their civil rights, including the right to vote, until issued a certificate of discharge upon completion of the requirements of their sentence. Former RCW 9.94A.220. In Madison v. Washington, 161 Wash.2d 85, 110, 163 P.3d 757 (2007), we upheld the disenfranchisement of felons who have satisfied the terms of their sentences, except for paying legal financial obligations. As this court noted, [A] state may permanently disenfranchise a felon without violating his or her constitutional rights. Id. at 106, 163 P.3d 757. Similar to felons who remain (potentially permanently) unable to pay legal financial obligations, felons who fail to serve their terms of community placement because of civil commitments have not been unconstitutionally disenfranchised by the failure to complete their sentence. A felon's disenfranchisement arises from the commission of a felony, not from his civil commitment. Until Donaghe fulfills the requirements of his sentence, he is not eligible for discharge under former RCW 9.94A.220. The trial court's denial of his motion for a certificate of discharge did not result in his unconstitutional disenfranchisement. [15]