Thousands Of Felons Can Officially Vote Again In Md.

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The right to vote is now back in the hands of thousands of former offenders in Maryland, thanks to a new law that starts today.

Gigi Barnett has more.

"I've been on parole for 21 years so clearly this is a sweet moment of liberation for me," said Greg Carpenter.

And in all that time, he has not cast a ballot in any election. The right was stripped when he went to prison.

Thursday, that changed for Carpenter and at least 40,000 former offenders across the state. Some of them rallied in front of the city's Board of Elections office, celebrating the right to vote thanks to a new law that allows them to cast a ballot.

Once inside the office, registration was no longer barred.

"Now I'm part of the process on the right side of the legal system," said Gerald Dent. "A legal victory."

It's one that brings tears to Kimberly Haven.

"I'm on parole right now ," said Haven.

She's worked to change previous laws that blocked her from voting. She says the right to choose the nation's next leaders at the polls restores dignity and removes stigma.

"We know by research that when people are civically [sic] engaged in their community, they're less likely to harm that community," said Haven. "So something like this is huge."

The previous law barred former offenders who were on parole or on probation from casting a ballot. The new law wipes all of that out. Now, if you are out of prison, you can vote.

These new voters say they're watching hotly-contested campaigns closely and ready to send a clear message to candidates:

"Hey, you might not be there if not for my vote," said Dent.

Of the state's 40,000 former offenders who can now cast a ballot, 20,000 of them live in Baltimore City.