NCJ Number
209220
Date Published
February 2005
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This report presents a national survey of the voting rights restoration process in the 14 States that permanently disenfranchise persons convicted of felonies.
Abstract
As a result of felony disenfranchisement, there are an estimated 4.7 million Americans who are not eligible to vote. Disenfranchisement laws are determined by States, resulting in considerable variation across the United States. While most States exclude people from voting while they are serving a felony sentence or while on probation or parole, there are 14 States that permanently disenfranchise people even after the completion of their sentences. In these States, persons who wish to regain their voting rights must do so through action by the State, generally involving a pardon or legislative action. Data are presented on the number of disenfranchised persons seeking to have their rights restored in these 14 States, as well as estimates of the total number of disenfranchised people in these States who have completed their felony sentence. In most States, the number of voting rights restorations has increased as policy and legislative changes have made the restoration process simpler. Despite reforms, these 14 States still have a combined total of 1.5 million permanently disenfranchised persons. Moreover, the lack of data and systematic record keeping of felony disenfranchisement and of the rights restoration process in these States makes it difficult to assess the impact of legislative changes over time. The information available on felony disenfranchisement and the restoration process in each of the 14 States is presented by State; time periods vary as available data varied. Recommendations are offered that include the need to repeal permanent disenfranchisement laws, eliminate waiting period for restoration, and to build transparency into the restoration process. Footnotes, tables