Dothan Man Votes for First time since 1970

Published: November 4, 2008

Ussery Knight strolled into the polling place at Doug Tew Recreation Center on Tuesday.

It was just before 5 p.m. and the lines were down. Knight grabbed his ballot, cast his vote for Barack Obama, and walked out. It marked the first time he had been able to vote in almost 40 years.

The last time Knight, 62, had the right to vote, gas was 36 cents per gallon, the Dow sat at 839, “Patton” was the big movie at the box office and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” was beginning a seven-year run on television.

It was 1970. Knight doesn’t even remember who he voted for that year.

About two years later, Knight was convicted of manslaughter, a Class A felony. He said he only served probation, but the felony conviction meant he forfeited the right to vote.

“I didn’t think I would ever be able to vote again,” Knight said. “Funny thing is, I was just getting back from Vietnam, fighting for freedom.”

But recently, Knight was watching television when he saw the Rev. Kenneth Glasgow, founder of The Ordinary People Society, talking about the restoration of voting rights for ex-felons. Glasgow has mounted a crusade throughout Alabama to help ex-felons regain the right to vote.

Knight followed up with Glasgow and filled out the necessary paperwork. A few weeks later, his right to vote had been restored.

“It was really easier than I thought it would be,” he said.

Knight said he voted for Obama because “I saw him on television and liked what he said.”

Now, Knight said he plans to vote every election.

“If you don’t have the right to vote and can get that right restored, you need to look into it,” he said.