To women and men who served time in Michigan: VOTE ON NOV. 3!

 "They shouldn’t have voting rights!” 

That’s how one reader responded after HFP posted a message on Facebook encouraging formerly incarcerated men and women in Michigan to vote on November 3. Ours is one of 23 states where those living behind bars in state prisons lose their voting rights…but only until their release. When they get out, voting rights are automatically restored. 

For the record, 25 states actually bar community members from voting, simply on the basis of convictions in their past. 

Also for the record, Michigan is one of 48 states that won’t allow prisoners to cast ballots. 

HFP’s Communications Director Brad Warner, who speaks from personal experience, quickly responded to that statement on Facebook: “…our system is built on due process, the presumption of innocence, and the belief that people can be held accountable while still retaining their humanity. Rights should not be taken away based solely on an accusation, nor should people who have paid their debt to society be permanently excluded from participating in the communities they have worked to rebuild.”

A bit of history: The Campaign Legal Center states that, many years ago, these rules “proliferated as an intentional scheme to strip Black Americans of their freedom to vote and continue to disproportionately silence Black voters. Today, more than 4 million Americans are denied a voice in our democracy because of felony disenfranchisement laws. These Americans are members of their communities, but they have no say in the future of those communities. That’s why CLC supports ‘universal enfranchisement’ bills that give people who are currently or formerly incarcerated the freedom to vote.” 

One reason why Humanity for Prisoners encourages these people who, at one time lived in our state prisons, to vote is that research consistently shows that restoring voting rights is linked to lower recidivism rates! Individuals who vote after release are significantly less likely to reoffend because the act of voting fosters a sense of civic responsibility and belonging. 

HFP contends that, if a person has completed their judicially mandated sentence, their debt to society is paid! Continuing to deny them the right to vote turns a temporary criminal sentence into a permanent status as a second-class citizen. 

We repeat our message to all former prisoners: GET OUT AND VOTE! As Sharon Salzberg puts it: “Voting is the expression of our commitment to ourselves, one another, this country, and this world.” 

The constitution does not provide for first and second-class citizens.

Wendell Willkie 

In the kingdom of God there are no second-class citizens.

David S. Baxter

 

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