The United States is unique among democratic nations in enforcing voting bans on felons. There is little question that felony voting bans have long been in place in our country in order to enforce the disenfranchisement of communities of color.

Even if it is no longer the intention of lawmakers and politicians to discriminate, institutional policies and practices that have a proven track record of reifying racism in our legal system must be rooted out and replaced with better, more equitable alternatives.

In the now pivatol case, Farrakhan v. Gregoire, that recently won a victory in the fight to end unfair and unjust felony voting bans, Washington AG, Rob McKenna has fought hard to keep his state's ban in place.

It's time to tell McKenna that this is not right for the citizens of Washington or for the rest of America.