DURHAM, N.C. — The North Carolina Supreme Court heard arguments Thursday that could impact future voting rights for some who have been convicted of a crime.

Right now, any North Carolina resident can register to vote as long as they aren't in prison for a felony conviction. Previously, 56,000 North Carolinians could not cast their ballots if they were on a supervised release from prison. 

Last year, a panel of judges decided the state’s current law from 1973 was discriminatory and unconstitutional.

According to the State Board of Elections, when you are convicted of a misdemeanor in North Carolina, you do not lose your right to vote, even if you are incarcerated.

Last week, the North Carolina Supreme Court's new Republican majority heard arguments in the case — arguments that could soon impact to people like Lawrence Carpenter, who previously spent time in prison. 

As a small business owner for the last 22 years, Carpenter appreciates opportunities to relax.

“Pool is a thinking game, a thinking man’s game. You have to be creative. You have to be a risk taker,” Carpenter said. “I’m one of those types of people, I think a lot. Pool is more therapeutic as well.”

He said he’s worked hard to be where he is today.

“I was a young guy, grew up poor, grew up in one of the worst neighborhoods here in Durham,” Carpenter said.

Carpenter says he started selling drugs at 12. He later went to prison for the first time at 17 years old.

“Upon my second stint in prison, I realized I was an entrepreneur out there trying to do it the wrong way. So I made the intelligent decision to get into business,” Carpenter said.

Now, Carpenter owns SuperClean Professional Janitorial Services and ZBS Trucking. He also spends a lot of his time speaking to other people in prison, showing them it’s possible to turn things around.

“I’m a firm believer in just because you made a mistake in life doesn’t mean you have to be an outcast,” Carpenter said.

Last year, North Carolina judges ruled everyone in the state could vote as long as they weren’t in prison. That means people convicted of felonies on supervised release from prison can cast a ballot.

“I think not being able to vote is kind of like restricting your voice, and I just think that’s the major thing about it is your voice,” Carpenter said.

Carpenter says it’s common for people who have served time to have a sense of distrust for the legal system and government. Some may not feel like their vote even matters. However, he believes having the opportunity still means something.

“A lot of people just don’t have a lot of belief in government anyway, so I wouldn’t say that it gives them a sense of purpose, but I think it’s a start,” Carpenter said. “It’s a start of saying ‘Hey, we welcome you back. We welcome you back home. This is your chance to start to do things like normal people do.’”

Some of those involved in appealing the judges’ decision last year argue that the original 1973 law was approved without discriminatory intent by treating all similarly situated offenders the same. 

It could likely be months before the state Supreme Court issues a ruling.