Oct. 6--In a democracy and in a republic, there are few rights more essential than the right to vote.

It follows that in a democracy and in a republic it is essential that whoever is qualified to cast a ballot should be clearly defined. Those so qualified also should not be hindered in the exercise of the franchise.

In Alabama, state law says that felons convicted of crimes of "moral turpitude" will not be allowed to vote unless their rights have been restored.

Since moral turpitude is defined as "conduct contrary to community standards of justice, honesty and good morals," most people would feel that any felony would be such a crime. Therefore, anyone convicted of a felony also would have been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude and would be disqualified from voting.

Case closed, right?

No. A squabble between the governor's office and the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts has shown that since state law does not list the crimes that involve moral turpitude the various branches of government involved in the administration of the law are left to make up a list on their own.

Thus, when the governor's office recently asked the AOC for a list of these crimes so it could advise voter registrars who to register, the AOC did not provide one. Whether it "refused" as the governor's office charged or simply did not have one available really doesn't matter. The point is that the governor asked for it and didn't get it.

So the governor's office asked the attorney general's office for a list, but what it received was incomplete. Then the governor's office went to work and made up its own.

Meanwhile, there are counties in Alabama that have compiled their own list of crimes of moral turpitude. They're using those lists to determine who can and can't vote.

The bottom line is simple. With so much confusion, some Alabamians who should be allowed to vote are being denied that right, and some who should not be voting will likely cast a ballot. The governor and the AOC should get together quickly, agree on a list of crimes and send it out to all registrars. With this in hand, the registrars -- many already overworked -- should do all in their power to make sure that those who have been wrongly told they could not vote are notified.

Meanwhile, concerned legislators should prepare a bill that lists the crimes of moral turpitude that apply here and have it ready to submit when the next session convenes.

-----

To see more of The Anniston Star or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.annistonstar.com/.

Copyright (c) 2008, The Anniston Star, Ala.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.