Good morning! More than 5 million Americans are denied the right to vote because of felony convictions. People in prison represent about 25% of that number. Two states, Maine and Vermont, allow people in prison to vote. Voting is not a constitutional right, but several amendments protect our right to vote. While the idea of “punishment” can be debated, the idea of losing a right that is protected under a constitutional amendment should not be debatable.
https://democracyjournal.org/magazine/28/the-missing-right-a-constitutional-right-to-vote/
Action No. 1
If you are not a resident of Maine or Vermont, ask your representative to follow the lead of Maine and Vermont, and pass legislation that restores voting rights to people currently in prison. Every citizen deserves the right to cast a ballot.
Find your state legislators here:
https://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/
Have a great weekend! Betty