From the Seattle PI:

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- A marijuana conviction took away Beverly DuBois's right to vote.

The former park ranger, who became disabled after a car accident, said she thought that once she was released after serving nine months in prison, her rights would immediately be restored. But nearly $2,000 in court-ordered fees kept her from regaining her ability to cast a ballot.

"It's been frustrating," she said. "I'm on disability. I can only afford to pay $10 a month. Until it's paid off, I couldn't vote. A person who has money gets out of jail, they pay their fine, they can vote."

But a King County Superior Court judge ruled Monday that DuBois and others like her cannot be barred from voting just because they owe fines.

"There is no logic in the assumption that a person in possession of sufficient resources to pay the obligation immediately is the more law-abiding citizen, indeed, the better example of respect for our justice system may very well be the indigent who manages for years to make monthly payments toward the obligation," Judge Michael Spearman wrote.

Thus, contrary to what many have been suggesting, the issue is not whether ex-felons should be able to vote. It is whether the state can discriminate against poor vs. rich ex-felons.

Update: The state has decided to appeal the ruling.