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FELON ENFRANCHISEMENT AND THE RIGHT TO VOTE Millions of Americans are barred from the polls because of felony convictions. Voting is a fundamental right and a cornerstone of our democracy, yet millions of Americans have had their right to vote revoked for periods ranging from the time spent incarcerated to a lifetime. In 10 states, you can lose your right to vote for life. The ACLU is fighting to restore the voting rights of formerly incarcerated people so that they, like all Americans, will be heard.

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Reports Show Widespread Confusion About the Voting Rights of People With Criminal Records
A new report by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Brennan Center for Justice reveals widespread misunderstanding among state elections officials of laws governing the right to vote of citizens with felony convictions. A second ACLU report finds that voter registration forms in states across the country fail to clearly explain the eligibility of voters with criminal records. Both reports highlight widespread problems that endanger the voting rights of hundreds of thousands of eligible voters nationally in a presidential election year. More >>
> Report: De Facto Disenfranchisement
> Report: Voting With a Criminal Record: How Registration Forms Frustrate Democracy

Toolkit: Breaking Barriers to the Ballot Box
The first-ever felon enfranchisement toolkit was inspired by ACLU and ACLU affiliate work throughout the country and encompasses many of the most requested strategies, resources and model materials. Whether you are new to the issue of felon disfranchisement or have been working on it for years, you will find new and innovative materials and information in the toolkit to help you with your work.
More about the Toolkit >>

Restoring Voting Rights to People with Criminal Records
During the 2008 legislative sessions, approximately 75 felony disfranchisement-related bills were in play in 22 states. The passage of progressive measures in Louisiana, Kentucky and Florida is helping to expand access to voting for people with criminal records.
STATE-BY-STATE
> 2008 State Legislative and Policy Changes
> Voter Resources

Rhode Islanders Endorse Post-Prison Voting Rights
On Tuesday, November 7, 2007, Rhode Island voters approved Question 2 on the state ballot, a measure that removed the ban on voting by people with felony convictions on parole and probation. The referendum had been placed on the ballot by the state legislature, and received broad support in the state. Rhode Island now joins Massachusetts and New Hampshire in automatically restoring voting rights upon release from prison.
For more information, see www.brennancenter.org >>

ACLU of Mississippi Files Lawsuit To Challenge State's Denial of Voting Rights To Persons With Felony Convictions (October 6, 2006)
Strickland v. Clark, filed against the Secretary of State's Office and the State Attorney General's Office, challenges the denial of voting privileges to two Hinds County residents convicted of a crime not specifically listed in the State's Constitution as a crime that would take away an individual's right to vote. Read More >>

REPORTS
Out of Step With the World
This is the first comprehensive international and comparative analysis of U.S. felony disfranchisement policies. It compares them to other western democracies' policies, particularly those of western Europe, also reflecting on those nations' practices and legal precedents. It also looks at all international human rights treaties, other agreements and rules that bear on this issue, and explains how these provisions relate to U.S. laws.

Purged! How a Patchwork of Flawed and Inconsistent Voting Systems Could Deprive Millions of the Right to Vote

Voting While Incarcerated: A Tool Kit for Advocates Seeking to Register, and Facilitate Voting by, Eligible People in Jail

Civil Rights Groups and Secretary of State Reach Agreement on Felon Voters (10/24/2008)
The New Mexico Women's Justice Project, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico, and Secretary of State Mary Herrera announced an agreement to ensure convicted felons who have completed all probation or parole are able to vote in the upcoming election.

Reports Show Widespread Confusion About The Voting Rights Of People With Criminal Records (10/01/2008)
NEW YORK – A report released today by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law reveals widespread misunderstanding among state elections officials of laws governing the right to vote of citizens with felony convictions.

ACLU Disappointed With Federal Court Decision Upholding Tennessee's Disenfranchisement Law (09/23/2008)
NASHVILLE – A federal court today rejected a challenge to a Tennessee law that made the restoration of voting rights for people convicted of felonies contingent on the payment of all outstanding legal financial obligations (LFOs), namely restitution and child support fees. The American Civil Liberties Union and ACLU of Tennessee, which brought the case on behalf of four individuals who have completed their terms of imprisonment, parole and probation for their offenses, expressed disappointment with the decision.

ACLU Survey Reveals Elections Officials Lack Knowledge Of Voting Rules (09/17/2008)
COLUMBIA, SC – The American Civil Liberties Union today released the results of a survey of state elections officials which reveal widespread misunderstanding of the laws governing the right to vote of citizens with criminal records, endangering the voting rights of many in a presidential election year.

Statewide Ad Campaign Targets Re-enfranchised Voters (09/15/2008)
MIAMI – The Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida today launched a voter registration outreach campaign targeting people with past felony convictions whose rights have been restored, as well as those who are unsure of their civil rights status. The campaign comes on the heels of seven years of work educating the public about rights restoration and attempts to get the word out to re-enfranchised voters – a job that FRRC says the State of Florida has failed to take the lead on.

De Facto Disenfranchisement (10/01/2008)
A report by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Brennan Center for Justice reveals widespread misunderstanding among state elections officials of laws governing the right to vote of citizens with felony convictions.

Voting With a Criminal Record: How Registration Forms Frustrate Democracy (10/01/2008)

Breaking Barriers to the Ballot Box - Felon Enfranchisement Toolkit (01/25/2008)

Out of Step With the World (05/25/2006)
First comprehensive international and comparative analysis of felony disfranchisement policies, examining other western democracies' policies, practices and legal precedents.

Voting While Incarcerated: A Tool Kit for Advocates Seeking to Register, and Facilitate Voting by, Eligible People in Jail (10/04/2005)
This toolkit profiles efforts to register and make voting possible by eligible people in California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., jails. It lists the various models that may be used to register such people and to make it possible for them to vote from these facilities. There is also a list of issues to address with local jail and elections officials as well as specific strategies for success. Attached are sample materials to encourage and explain voting from jail, and resources including the law and voter registration contacts and deadlines for each state.

Young v. Hosemann - Preliminary Injunction Brief (09/12/2008)

Young v. Hosemann - Exhibits to Complaint (09/12/2008)

Young v. Hosemann - Exhibits to Preliminary Injunction Brief (09/12/2008)

Young v. Hosemann - Motion (09/12/2008)

Young v. Hosemann - Complaint (09/12/2008)

Voting With A Criminal Record - Executive Summary (10/01/2008)
The right to vote is the cornerstone of American democracy. For many Americans, the primary source of information about voter eligibility is the voter registration form. Consequently, the availability of clear, accurate registration forms is critical to ensuring this fundamental right.

De Facto Disenfranchisement - Introduction (10/01/2008)

Voting With A Criminal Record - Appendix: Voter Registration Forms (10/01/2008)

South Carolina County Election Board Survey on Felony & Misdemeanor Disfranchisement (09/17/2008)
The ACLU conducted a survey in the summer of 2008 of county election officials in all 46 South Carolina counties. The survey was conducted to ascertain the knowledge of elections officials about registering to vote with a criminal conviction in South Carolina.

Letter to Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel Regarding the Felon Disfranchisement of 700 Georgians (04/14/2008)

Young v. Hosemann (09/12/2008)
The ACLU filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging Mississippi’s denial of voting rights to citizens with felony convictions. Although the Mississippi Constitution permits people who have been convicted of a crime to vote for president and vice president, election administrators denied that right in practice. The ACLU asked the court to allow these citizens to register to vote in time to cast ballots for president and vice president in the 2008 elections.

Civil Rights Groups and Secretary of State Reach Agreement on Felon Voters (10/24/2008)
The New Mexico Women's Justice Project, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico, and Secretary of State Mary Herrera announced an agreement to ensure convicted felons who have completed all probation or parole are able to vote in the upcoming election.

Reports Show Widespread Confusion About The Voting Rights Of People With Criminal Records (10/01/2008)
NEW YORK – A report released today by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law reveals widespread misunderstanding among state elections officials of laws governing the right to vote of citizens with felony convictions.

ACLU Disappointed With Federal Court Decision Upholding Tennessee's Disenfranchisement Law (09/23/2008)
NASHVILLE – A federal court today rejected a challenge to a Tennessee law that made the restoration of voting rights for people convicted of felonies contingent on the payment of all outstanding legal financial obligations (LFOs), namely restitution and child support fees. The American Civil Liberties Union and ACLU of Tennessee, which brought the case on behalf of four individuals who have completed their terms of imprisonment, parole and probation for their offenses, expressed disappointment with the decision.

ACLU Survey Reveals Elections Officials Lack Knowledge Of Voting Rules (09/17/2008)
COLUMBIA, SC – The American Civil Liberties Union today released the results of a survey of state elections officials which reveal widespread misunderstanding of the laws governing the right to vote of citizens with criminal records, endangering the voting rights of many in a presidential election year.

Statewide Ad Campaign Targets Re-enfranchised Voters (09/15/2008)
MIAMI – The Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida today launched a voter registration outreach campaign targeting people with past felony convictions whose rights have been restored, as well as those who are unsure of their civil rights status. The campaign comes on the heels of seven years of work educating the public about rights restoration and attempts to get the word out to re-enfranchised voters – a job that FRRC says the State of Florida has failed to take the lead on.