Two million voters with felony convictions have the right to vote — but may not know it

As efforts to increase voter turnout ramp up across the country, a team of sociologists, political scientists and nonprofits in select states is focused on reaching some of the more than two million people with felony convictions who may not know it They have the legal right to vote.

Naomi Sugie, a sociology professor at UCLA, along with colleagues from UC Irvine, UC Berkeley School of Law and Stanford University, analyzed the barriers to voting that exist for this population during the November 2022 election and published their findings in a paper published in the Study published in October issue Punishment and society. This fall, researchers continue to monitor barriers alongside the Project VOICES team (short for Voter Outreach In Communities Experiencing System-Involvement) as they conduct a massive outreach effort ahead of the upcoming 2024 election.

While a felony conviction can result in the loss of the right to vote, contrary to popular belief, in many states a person regains the right to vote after incarceration or supervision.

According to the Sentencing Project, laws have changed in 26 states and the District of Columbia since 1997, expanding eligibility for those convicted of crimes. In many states, from red and blue to purple, some are eligible to vote for the first time in the upcoming election.

“This is about righting a wrong,” Sugie said. “The system of mass incarceration and current and historical legacies of voter suppression have excluded millions of people. The laws have changed and people need to know that.”

During the November 2022 election, the research team worked with local multinational organizations such as the Alliance for Safety and Justice and Time Done to conduct and analyze interviews and focus groups as part of the Project VOICES study. They also conducted large-scale SMS-based outreach to over 15,000 people before the election – 12% of whom responded – to directly learn more about the perspectives of those affected by the criminal justice system, including those who have been incarcerated, as well their relatives family members. This work was conducted in five states—California, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas—all of which had different laws and procedures.

This election year, the team of trained researchers, students and volunteers is continuing voter outreach in these states as well as Florida and Georgia, expanding its text messaging to reach 30,000 people affected by the system. Messages will be sent seven to eight times in the weeks leading up to the election to inform people of their rights and questions about a process that can be difficult to navigate.

“It’s intentionally very confusing,” said Delia, a 40-year-old Hispanic woman from Texas who was interviewed for the study. “In every unit I went to, the narrative was, ‘Now you’ve committed a crime. You’ll never get a job and you’ll never vote.’ And you believe that.

To maintain anonymity, pseudonyms were used for the individual interviewees.

Confusion over eligibility is just one barrier to voting. Misinformation and distrust of government also contribute to this, as some fear harsh penalties for simply attempting to vote or mistakenly believe that stricter laws apply to them in other states. Sometimes voting is simply not a priority, or they were not informed of their right to vote while incarcerated or upon release.

“A lot of our people come home and don’t know about this crap,” said Julian, a 41-year-old Chicano man from California who was interviewed as part of the study. “They’re just trying to get out of probation and not be bothered about it. So for them, voting is just another foreign language. And there’s no one to teach them.”

To get these voters to the ballot box, researchers found that community organizations such as re-entry and support networks, legal service providers, faith-based groups and others who work with affected communities are prioritizing dismantling misconceptions about voter eligibility through direct outreach and focus Process by helping you register and sending reminders.

The organizations also reiterated the influence that people affected by the system can have on elections and public policy. For example, another respondent, Javier, a 51-year-old black Puerto Rican from the organization Building Freedom Ohio, learned how valuable his voice is.

“Whether it’s because we’re returning citizens, whether it’s because we’re African American or Hispanic, they don’t want us to vote because our voices are powerful,” Javier said. “And so when someone tries to take over your voice and your voice, even if you don’t see the significance of it at the time, you have to look at why someone is trying to take it over, because there’s some meaning in that.” That. “

The authors emphasized that restricting access to the right to vote also restricts access to justice.

“Disenfranchisement is a matter of justice and equity,” Sugie said. “It particularly takes a toll on communities disproportionately affected by the criminal justice system, such as poor people and racial and ethnic minorities. It is important that our political systems ensure that their voices and concerns are also heard.”

“Your vote is your voice,” Javier said.