Nearly 150,000 Californians have regained the right to vote. Most are young African American and Latino men who have served their time for nonviolent crimes.

A state appeals court reversed a year-old policy that disenfranchised those who had been convicted of certain felonies but who had been given probation instead of prison time.

"This is an important step toward restoring full citizenship rights to those who have served their sentences," said ACLU/SC Executive Director Ramona Ripston. "California must do a better job of educating those released from prison about their right to vote."

Like most states, California does not allow those currently in prison or on parole to vote. Those who have completed post-prison parole or who are on court-ordered probation may vote. Probation is similar to parole but is commonly granted to those who commit nonviolent crimes, and may include time in local jail.

Nationwide, an estimated 5 million Americans currently in prison or who have served their sentences are disfranchised by punitive state laws. Many do not know their voting rights are restored when they leave prison, particularly among minority voters. Felon disenfranchisement policies affect 2.5% of Americans, but prevent 13% of African American men from voting, according to a report by the ACLU.

Several states permanently disenfranchise former felons who have served their sentences. Florida has created over 600,000 "ghost citizens," in the words of the ACLU in that state.

The ACLU of Northern California filed the case on behalf of several Californians on probation, the League of Women Voters and other voting-rights groups. The ACLU combats the disenfranchisement of former inmates and promotes education campaigns to inform them of their rights.

President Bush claims he can open Americans' mail without a search warrant. Now the ACLU has filed a Freedom of Information Act request to learn more about the government's warrantless mail searches.

The ACLU has also asked that Congress to exercise its oversight function and require the Postal Service to publicly report the annual number of such searches.

U.S. law allows inspectors to open first-class mail only with a warrant or when there is credible evidence the package containes dangerous material such as a bomb. A law passed by Congress in 2006 reiterated that privacy protection. But when he signed the law in December, Bush expanded his power to include "exigent circumstances" and "the need for physical searches specifically authorized by law for foreign intelligence collection."

"The President has a dismal record of violating Americans' privacy rights through warrantless monitoring of our phone calls and Internet use, without explaining why the surveillance is necessary," said ACLU/SC Executive Director Ramona Ripston. "We have serious concerns that Americans' personal mail is now being opened without a warrant or their knowledge."

The ACLU's FOIA request seeks to uncover the number of times mail has been opened, whether people who are searched are notified after the fact, and what policies govern the opening of mail, so Americans can learn if the government is protecting their rights. The ACLU questioned whether the "exigent circumstances" would include the singling out of mail addressed to or from people on government watch lists, which are notoriously flawed.

The ACLU is currently challenging the Bush administration's illegal wiretapping program, disclosed in December 2005. Last August, a federal district judge in Detroit declared the program unconstitutional, saying "There are no hereditary Kings in America and no powers not created by the Constitution." The Bush administration has appealed that ruling, and a hearing is scheduled for January 31.

Nearly 150,000 Californians have regained the right to vote. Most are young African American and Latino men who have served their time for nonviolent crimes.

A state appeals court reversed a year-old policy that disenfranchised those who had been convicted of certain felonies but who had been given probation instead of prison time.

"This is an important step toward restoring full citizenship rights to those who have served their sentences," said ACLU/SC Executive Director Ramona Ripston. "California must do a better job of educating those released from prison about their right to vote."

Like most states, California does not allow those currently in prison or on parole to vote. Those who have completed post-prison parole or who are on court-ordered probation may vote. Probation is similar to parole but is commonly granted to those who commit nonviolent crimes, and may include time in local jail.

Nationwide, an estimated 5 million Americans currently in prison or who have served their sentences are disfranchised by punitive state laws. Many do not know their voting rights are restored when they leave prison, particularly among minority voters. Felon disenfranchisement policies affect 2.5% of Americans, but prevent 13% of African American men from voting, according to a report by the ACLU.

Several states permanently disenfranchise former felons who have served their sentences. Florida has created over 600,000 "ghost citizens," in the words of the ACLU in that state.

The ACLU of Northern California filed the case on behalf of several Californians on probation, the League of Women Voters and other voting-rights groups. The ACLU combats the disenfranchisement of former inmates and promotes education campaigns to inform them of their rights.