John,
A new report from The Sentencing Project, “Locked Out 2024: Estimates of People Denied Voting Rights Due to a Felony Conviction” found that 4 million Americans will be unable to vote in the upcoming 2024 election due to felony disenfranchisement laws. Despite recent reforms in several states that have reduced disenfranchisement rates, the report underscores the continued exclusion of millions of Americans from the democratic process.
Felony disenfranchisement remains a critical barrier to full civic participation, particularly for communities of color. Seventy percent of voting-age Americans who are banned from voting are currently living in their communities, without a voice in the policies and laws that shape their lives. Despite progress in many states, felony disenfranchisement echoes policies of the past, like poll taxes and literacy tests. Felony voting bans keep communities that have been historically unheard and under-resourced from having equal representation in our democracy. It’s time to guarantee voting rights for all, including those with felony convictions, to create a truly inclusive democracy.
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Other key findings from the report include: - Since 2016, the number of disenfranchised people has declined by 31% as more states implement policies to restore voting rights, but significant barriers remain, particularly for individuals unable to pay court-ordered fines and fees.
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One in 22 African Americans of voting age is disenfranchised, a rate more than three times that of non-African Americans. More than 10% of African American citizens are barred from voting in five states—Arizona, Florida, Kentucky, South Dakota and Tennessee.
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Approximately 496,000 Latino Americans are disenfranchised, with over 5% of Latino voters in Arizona and Tennessee affected by felony voting bans. Latino voters are disenfranchised at higher rates than the general population in 28 states.
- Approximately 764,000 women are barred from voting due to felony convictions, making up just under 20% of the disenfranchised population. 56% of women who are disenfranchised have completed their sentences.
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Florida and Tennessee lead the nation in disenfranchisement rates, with more than 6% of their adult populations unable to vote, due to a felony conviction.
- While half of U.S. states have made strides in expanding voting rights for people with felony convictions, other states—particularly in the Southeast—have resisted such reforms. As a result, the number of disenfranchised voters in these states grew, even as the national figure decreased.
The Sentencing Project will host a webinar offering a deeper analysis of the report on Wednesday, October 16 at 2:00 pm ET. |
As we approach another critical election, millions of citizens are still excluded from participating in the democratic process. If America truly wants to live up to its promise as the beacon on the hill of democracy, it’s time to ensure we’re living up to these ideals. Guaranteeing that every voting-age citizen has a voice in shaping our future is essential to building a more inclusive and equitable society. |
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