The right to vote is fundamental to our democracy and should never be taken away. But today, an estimated 4.6 million people, disproportionately Black and Brown people, are denied their right to vote because they have felony convictions. In fact, all but two states—Maine and Vermont—and the District of Columbia, limit access to the polls for those with involvement in the criminal legal system.
In recent years, several states have made progress in restoring voting rights to more formerly incarcerated people. In 2023, New Mexico and Minnesota restored the right to vote to people on parole, and a federal court struck down Mississippi’s lifetime voting ban for people convicted of certain felonies.
But we must keep working to ensure that no one is ever disenfranchised. Contact your governor today and urge them to restore voting rights for all!
