Locked Out November 1, 2024 Why Millions of Americans Still Can’t Vote After Serving Their Time Despite completing their sentences, millions of justice-impacted Americans are barred from the polls—a political calculation that denies a growing demographic the chance to shape the nation’s future. As the nation heads to the polls tomorrow, millions of Americans—individuals who have served time and fulfilled the demands of their sentences—remain shut out from participating in the democratic process. At its core, this exclusion is a deliberate political decision that has targeted justice-impacted people. Often from marginalized communities, citizens who have served their time have had their voices systematically erased from election maps. Today, over 4 million U.S. citizens – predominantly Black and Latino – are denied their right to vote due to felony disenfranchisement laws, despite having completed their sentences and otherwise qualifying to cast a ballot. This reality undercuts the basic American principle of “one person, one vote;” We are explicitly excluding those who are most impacted by the criminal justice system from having any say in shaping policies that govern their lives and communities. Although national reform movements have gained traction in recent decades, regressive policies persist in states with historically high rates of disenfranchisement. Denying the vote to individuals who have already paid their debt to society is a calculated political strategy; it serves to silence a population of voices and perpetuates structural inequities within the American political landscape. A History of Voting Rights and Disenfranchisement The disenfranchisement of justice-impacted people in the U.S. has roots extending back to the Civil War era, when laws were designed to exclude formerly enslaved people and their descendants from participating in democracy. Many states enacted laws that permanently stripped voting rights from individuals convicted of felonies, disproportionately affecting Black Americans. Over time, these laws evolved, creating a labyrinth of disenfranchisement statutes. Some states bar voting rights only during incarceration, others extend this prohibition through parole and probation, and others require individuals to complete additional steps, like paying off legal fees, to regain their right to vote. Disenfranchisement Map It wasn’t until the late 20th century that advocates saw notable changes in voting rights for those with criminal records. Civil rights groups like The Sentencing Project and Campaign Legal Center spearheaded efforts to reframe felony disenfranchisement as a fundamental issue of justice and democracy. Leaders like Desmond Meade, director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, have been instrumental in re-enfranchising justice-impacted people. Through relentless advocacy, they pushed for and passed Florida’s Amendment 4 in 2018, a landmark ballot initiative aimed at restoring voting rights to over a million Floridians with felony convictions. Number Disenfranchised for Selected Years, 1960-2022 (Source: The Sentencing Project) However, a backlash followed. In response, the state legislature imposed additional restrictions, requiring payment of all court-related fees before restoration—a condition that effectively keeps thousands of low-income individuals from voting. These obstacles reveal the entrenched resistance from opponents of voting rights restoration, often driven by political motivations to keep a segment of the population silent. The Role of Organizations and Influential Advocates Advocates nationwide have been tireless in their fight to restore the voting rights of justice-impacted citizens. Organizations like The Last Mile, the ACLU, and the Alliance for Safety and Justice have pushed for changes in legislation while working to change the public perception of people with criminal records. These organizations emphasize that justice-impacted individuals, including the alumni from prison programs like The Last Mile, are fully committed to reintegrating into society, strengthening their communities, and contributing positively to civic life. Conversely, groups opposed to these reforms argue that restoring voting rights could undermine law and order. They often assert that those who have broken the law have forfeited their right to shape it. However, a growing body of research refutes this, showing that allowing justice-impacted individuals to vote reduces recidivism and fosters a greater sense of community responsibility. As the movement gains momentum, it is clear that access to the vote is essential not only for democratic representation but also for individual rehabilitation and societal cohesion. Reclaiming the American Dream: A Call for Restoring Voting Rights The U.S. is at a pivotal moment, with growing recognition of the need for policies that reflect the full diversity of the nation. Justice-impacted people bring unique perspectives to key issues like criminal justice reform and economic opportunities. Without their input, entire communities are sidelined in the policy-making process, perpetuating cycles of disenfranchisement. Programs like The Last Mile highlight how justice-impacted individuals are committed to rebuilding their lives and contributing to society. Restoring voting rights recognizes their resilience and provides motivation for those currently incarcerated to pursue similar paths of reintegration and positive impact. As the polls open tomorrow, it’s crucial to remember that millions remain excluded from the democratic process due to policies that are increasingly misaligned with our nation’s ideals of inclusivity and justice. For a truly representative democracy, we must act now to ensure that justice-impacted citizens who have served their time are fully restored in their rights. Only then can we achieve a nation that values the voices, experiences, and aspirations of all its citizens. Want articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to The Last Mile Marker, a newsletter offering in-depth insights, critical updates, and inspiring stories on criminal justice reform and second chances.