The Fight to Abolish Felony Disenfranchisement

Felony disenfranchisement, a Jim Crow relic which takes away an individual’s freedom to vote if they have been convicted of a felony, is a stain on our democracy. This practice excludes millions of Americans from participating in our elections depending on where they live, either because they have been disenfranchised under law or because of confusing or burdensome laws around restoring their voting rights.

These laws proliferated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as an intentional scheme to strip Black Americans of the freedom to vote. Now, they continue to disproportionately impact Black and brown voters across the country.

Advocates in states across the country — including New Mexico, Washington, Alabama and Massachusetts — are making progress toward abolishing this practice and achieving a truly fair and inclusive democracy. But there’s still a long way to go.

Campaign Legal Center’s Restore Your Vote team has been working alongside clients, partners and affected individuals — some of whom will be participating in this event — to fight back against felony disenfranchisement and help those in their communities restore their freedom to vote.

Panelists from states that have made progress in this fight illuminated the historical context behind the practice of felony disenfranchisement; discussed the unique barriers faced by advocates for voting rights restoration; highlighted the strategies and tactics that are proving successful across the country; and talked about how other states can follow suit.