« KS: Keep Private Prisons Out of Kansas | Main | GA: 4,300 more cells and 1,000 more pre-kindergarten slots »
March 24, 2006
MA: Many in Jail Eligible to Vote, but Need Access
This was printed in the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Northampton, MA
March 23, 2006
Many in jail eligible to vote, but need access
To the editor:
I agree with Yvonne Freccero and Osa Flory's guest column that we must eliminate barriers to voting in order to expand democratic participation. In fact, there are thousands of men and women held on bail prior to trial and sentencing who are eligible to vote but have no access to the ballot. Additionally, there are the tens of thousands of our fellow citizens who have finished serving their prison or jail sentence and are eligible to vote but are uninformed about their rights.
This can be corrected through proposed unconditional absentee voting which would allow people being held pre-trial to vote. Other barriers would fall if Election Day voter registration took place at polling places. However, for these good ideas to work, jails must be willing to inform those being held pre-trial how they can vote absentee. Departments of probation and parole need to inform people that they are eligible to vote upon release from jail or prison.
This can be facilitated by having voter registration forms on hand at probation and parole offices and signs posted explaining voter eligibility.
The Sentencing Project estimates there are 4.7 million Americans who have currently or permanently lost their voting rights as a result of a felony conviction. The United States is the only democracy that permanently disenfranchises almost 2 million of its citizens. In 2000 Massachusetts voters passed a law prohibiting people who are incarcerated from voting. As a result of this law and the permanent disenfranchisement of millions, many of Massachusetts' citizens who were incarcerated incorrectly believe that they are prohibited from voting. Groups like the League of Women Voters, political parties and people working in the criminal justice system need to actively inform everyone of their voting rights.
Lois Ahrens
Northampton
Posted by lois at March 24, 2006 11:38 AM