Many people within the United States are victim to various forms of Voting disenfranchisement. Some feel oppressed, while others are unable to procure a license in states where they are required to vote, while others fall prey to the court systems throughout the U.S. and lose their right to vote as convicts or felons. Each state deals with criminal voting in different manners and in some states, such as Iowa, a felony conviction will forfeit one’s right to vote permanently. This is an issue that needs to be raised to the public, as states strip rights from those who have been, or are currently, incarcerated. Not all states are as unforgiving as Iowa, and states like Oregon only prevent those  currently incarcerated from voting. But is that fair to inmates who are affected by legislation they have no hand in making? Possibly an issue to be addressed by another blog. It is important for potential voters to know what their state laws are concerning voter suppression as it relates to incarceration and felony convictions. Below is a website that makes it easy for those curious about their state laws to look into the situation presented to them. The problems facing those incarcerated in certain states may plague them for the rest of their lives in states where they are banned from voting after acquiring a felony conviction charge. This is a social justice issue that I believe should be rectified. Why should individuals incarcerated in state penitentiaries be unable to vote one issues concerning their own living conditions? I do not have all of the answers, but it is important to stay informed about one’s situation and what injustices you may face in the future.

    According to the Sentencing Project, approximately 6.1 million people were blocked from voting during the 2016 Presidential Election and were disenfranchised due to felony convictions. This massive amount of voters could potentially swing any election and are blocked due to felony conviction or incarceration of more than a year or plead guilty to felony charges. Of that 6.1 million disenfranchised people, less than a fourth are currently incarcerated, which leaves about 4.5 million people who are no longer locked up, but are still unable to vote. However, there are efforts to reform policies related to incarcerated voters and several states have begun to reinstate rights to voters. For example, Florida has been a State that allows convicted felons to regain voting rights after serving their incarceration and probation terms. It is important for potential voters to know what their state laws allow and how they could possibly regain their voting rights. If these circumstances pertain to you or anyone you may know, research your local policies and see if voting is within reach once again.

For more information about voting after receiving a felony charge, please visit:

  https://www.aclu.org/issues/voting-rights/voter-restoration/felony-disenfranchisement-laws-map

https://www.sentencingproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/6-Million-Lost-Voters.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felony_disenfranchisement_in_the_United_States#cite_note-:1-14

https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/few-inmates-exercise-their-right-to-cast-ballots