Voting Rights for the Formerly Incarcerated

By Natalie Rodriguez-Steen

As a citizen of the United States, I never felt like I had to worry about my right to vote being eliminated. As a child, I would often see news coverage plastered across the TV screen about the un - democratic election processes of other countries. I would frequently hear about how those citizens did not feel safe going to the poll s or how their elections were rigged so their vote ultimately did not matter. The act of deliberately undermining someone’s right to vote seemed inhumane and not like something we would face here. However, there are various issues with the current voting system in the United States Inmates in Washington D.C. will likely that limit an individual’s right to vote and get the right to vote, joining Maine and alter its effectiveness. One of these issues is Vermont as the only states that allow the limitations that are placed on individuals inmates to vote. who have been convicted of a felony. Because Read the Washington Post article here. of these restrictive measures, those who return to their commun ities from incarceration are continually made to feel like second class citizens long after their punishment has been served. In fact, a 2016 study by the Sentencing Project estimated that around 6 million Americans are unable to vote because of felonydisenfranchisement or laws restricting voting ri ghts. These laws took hold particularly after the Civil War due to the passing of the re construction amendments. The 15th Amendment was intended to unequivocally grant all males the right to vote, however, that right was eroded and limited through voter suppression and disenfranchisement. During that time, many states adopted laws that limited the right to vote for those convicted of crimes specifically S tate’s general rule regarding restoration targeting black men. Although, many of voting rights: states have adopted amendments to grant voting rights for those convicted No restrictions: Vote restored after of a felony, felony disenfranchisement prison and parole: continues to plague our country. The • • Maine Vermont • • California Connecticut continued use of felony disenfranchisement as a means of punishment has a direct effect on the political outcomes in the United States. One study has estimated that, “disenfranchisement polices have likely affected the results of seven U.S. Senate races from 1970 to 1977 as well as the hotly contested 2000 Bush - Gore presidential election”. Even more so, it has been found that civic participation in one’s community is linked to lower recidivism rates (Chung) . Participa ting in civic society helps individuals reaffirm that they are members of the community from which they have been separated. In an interview in 2015, Dexter Stanton said of his inability to vote that, “ I was a part of the community, and yet I was separate. I wasn’ t a community member” .

The process of regaining the right to vote after serving time for a felony depends on the state in which that crime was committed. Some states like Maine and Vermont have no restrictions but others require all of probation or parole to be served before the right to vote can be restored. Other states do not allow individuals to regain the right to vote if they have been convicted of certain felony offenses. In a lot of states, the path to restoring one’s right to vote is full of obstacles. Some states require that all fines must be paid and all obligations of probation and parole must be completed before voting rights can be restored. Additionally, states like I owa require that individuals convicted of a felony must apply to have them restored. Those applications will be reviewed and decided on by the governor. E ach state’s general rule regarding restoration of voting rights (con’t) :

Vote restored after prison: Colorado, DC, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah Vote restored after prison, parole, and probation Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin May permanently lose the right to vote: Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Wyoming

*Some states have specific restrictions, rules, and exceptions for restoration of voting rights.

Felony disenfranchisement has a difficult and sordid place in our history as a country. We must understand that laws are subject to change as society learns about what types of retribution and rehabilitation are suitable. As public perception alters and legislation is enacted to restore voting rights in fair and reasonable ways, we may see more people being able to show up to the polls in the future. As citizens, we are all entitled to our right to vote and participate in our civic duty.