Restore individual’s voting rights
It has been common practice in the United States to make felons ineligible to vote, in some cases permanently. The past few years there has been a growing trend toward reinstating the right to vote at some point, although this is a state-by-state policy choice.
Currently in states that have restoration of rights approximately 18 million Americans with past convictions can vote but are unaware due to the intentional felony disenfranchisement laws in every state.
As it stands today, District of Columbia, Maine and Vermont, never remove the right to vote, even while persons are incarcerated. 23 states remove the right to vote only while the individual is incarcerated, and receive automatic restoration upon release. 15 states remove the right to vote during incarceration, and for a period of time after, typically while on parole and/or probation. Voting rights are automatically restored after this time period. Some states may require an individual to pay any outstanding fines, fees or restitution before their rights are restored. And 10 states, remove the right to vote indefinitely for some crimes, or require a governor’s pardon for voting rights to be restored, face an additional waiting period after completion of sentence (including parole and probation) or require additional action before voting rights can be restored.
Congress should pass the Democracy Restoration Act which declares that the right of a U.S. citizen to vote in any election for federal office shall not be denied or abridged because that individual has been convicted of a criminal offense unless, at the time of the election, such individual is serving a felony sentence. States should also ensure that if you’re a voting-age citizen living in the community, you get to vote.