Ex-Offenders Strive to Regain Voting Rights
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In the United States approximately 5.4 million people, or 1 in 40 adults, are denied the right to vote due to felony convictions. Though only two states, Kentucky and West Virginia, permanently disfranchise all ex-offenders, other states' laws and policies make it difficult for those who have already served their sentences to fully exercise this basic right of citizenship. Many organizations are helping to combat discriminatory policies that make the re-entry of former prisoners into society extremely difficult.
All of Us or None is a national organizing initiative of former prisoners who are working to end unfair practices and policies that deny those with felony convictions access to public housing, student loans, welfare benefits, and food stamps. Through community organizing and outreach, All of Us or None has spread throughout California, and also has an Oklahoma chapter.
The American Civil Liberties Union is also working in several states to change and influence public policy. There have been several bills introduced in various states and though some have not advanced this legislative session, several have been passed that have decreased the number of disfranchised persons by extending the right to vote to those on probation and parole.
On February 5, 2007 Congressmember Charles B. Rangel of New York introduced the Ex-Offenders Voting Rights Act to the House of Representatives. Currently there is only one co-sponsor on the bill, Representative Yvette D. Clarke, also of New York. The bill, HR.818, has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary but no action has been taken. This bill calls for those who have fully served their sentences to be re-enfranchised (though it does not extend the right to vote to those who are on probation or parole at the time of an election). This bill will help standardize the voting restrictions across the United States and will help prevent states from discriminating against those who have served their time for felony convictions.
