The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, based in California, has upheld an earlier determination that, essentially, gives convicted felons in Washington State the right to vote.

An earlier panel of the appeals court overturned a ruling that held Washington was correct in denying voting rights to state prison inmates who were convicted of felonies. The full circuit court refused to even consider re-hearing the case.

A few judges dissented, and said:

Though the panel hints otherwise, plaintiffs never produced a shred of evidence of intentional discrimination in Washington’s criminal justice system.

The dissenting justices didn't exactly mince words, either:

This is a dark day for the Voting Rights Act. In adopting a constitutionally questionable interpretation of the Act, the panel lays the groundwork for the dismantling of the most important piece of civil rights legislation since Reconstruction.

It is, however, good news for folks like Gary Ridgway, the Green River Killer, who can now register his displeasure with the government via ballot box.