That Democrats aggressively pursue the youth vote is no surprise, but a new bill promising to pursue theincarcerated youth vote has raised eyebrows.  The bill sponsored by Democratic Colorado State House Rep. Paul Rosenthal, is titled “Concerning the Voting Rights of Individuals in the Custody of the Division of Youth Corrections within the Department of Human Services” and it requires that adults over the age of 18 in the Division of Youth Corrections (a.k.a., convicted felons) be registered and allowed to vote. From the bill summary:

In the case of any individual confined to a juvenile facility and in the custody of the division of youth corrections (division) in the department of human services who is 18 years of age or older on the date of the next election, the bill requires the administrator of the facility in which the individual is confined to facilitate the registration for voting purposes of, and voting by, the individual. In connection with this requirement, the bill requires the administrator to provide the individual information regarding his or her voting rights and how the individual may register to vote and cast a mail or mail-in ballot, provide the individual with voter information materials upon the request of the individual, and ensure that any mail or mail-in ballot cast by the individual is timely delivered to the designated election official.

The proposed law makes no differentiation between those in the Division of Youth Corrections for misdemeanors or felonies.  If this doesn’t include those who are convicted of felonies, the law is simply a restatement of the existing law.  Those who are convicted of misdemeanors and who will be 18 by the next election are already eligible to vote, according to the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition.

Either way, we have to hand it to Democrats for targeting a truly “captive” audience.