Dear John, Across the country confusing laws that exclude people with felony convictions from voting have extreme consequences. Your support for legislation that restores federal voting rights to all returning citizens can make a difference. On Monday, October 18, the U.S. Senate will consider the Freedom to Vote Act, voting rights legislation that incorporates a provision to restore federal voting rights automatically to returning citizens in every state. Mark Varley was convicted of illegal voting in Wyoming this year when in November he cast a ballot in the presidential election for Donald Trump. He left prison almost 10 years earlier and had no idea that his state barred him from voting for life because of his two prior felony convictions. Varley told his local paper, “It made me feel like I wasn’t worthy to vote as an American.” The Sentencing Project has long advocated for a democracy that incorporates all voices, including the diverse community of 5.2 million people with a felony conviction who are excluded from voting because of their state laws. I urge you to tell your Senators today to support the Freedom to Vote Act. |
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