[[link removed]]
State policy advocates and organizers are working to guarantee voting rights for all including those completing their sentencing. State-based advocates continue the day to day work to challenge collateral consequences and mass incarceration.
Strategizing in Denver
The Sentencing Project convened over 30 advocacy organizers from 15 states and Washington DC during the Accelerator Conference in Denver, hosted in partnership with the State Innovation Exchange (SiX). SiX is a national strategy center that collaborates with state legislators in close coordination with advocacy groups, think tanks, and activists to provide the tools and information policymakers need to be successful legislative champions.
The two-day convening facilitated connection among directly impacted activists, advocacy organizers and state lawmakers working to guarantee voting rights for all citizens including persons completing their sentence inside prison. The convening featured several interactive sessions, such as state campaign updates to expand voting to all incarcerated citizens and strategy discussions to move activists from jail-based voter efforts to organizing campaigns to expand voting rights. Participants collaborated on next steps to advance state campaigns including continued cross-state strategy discussions, developing prison based civic education initiatives, and launching implementation strategies to guarantee ballot access.
State Reforms
To strengthen democracy and address voter suppression within Black and Brown communities, states must pass reforms establishing universal voting for people impacted by the criminal legal system. Millions of people in the United States are currently denied access to the vote because of a felony conviction.
*
Illinois
-
SB
828
[[link removed].]
,
legislation
that
would
authorize
voting
for
persons
in
prison,
is
pending
in
the
General
Assembly.
The
Sentencing
Project
joined
advocacy
organizers
following
the
June
primary
to
call
attention
to
the
30,000
citizens
who
missed
out
on
the
election
because
of
the
state’s
voting
ban.


*
North
Carolina
-
In
an
amicus
brief
[[link removed]]
,
The
Sentencing
Project
argued
the
state’s
law
disproportionately
deprives
Black
North
Carolinians
of
the
right
to
vote
and
prolongs
their
disenfranchisement
due
to
persistent
racial
inequality.

Nicole D. Porter
Senior Director of Advocacy
email: [email protected]
Donate [[link removed]]
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United States
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