In Alabama, Voter Suppression Looks A Lot Like Double Jeopardy (WNYC Public Radio)

According to The Sentencing Project, about 6.1 million Americans are not eligible to vote because of a felony conviction. While some of those people are still in prison, nearly 4 million have completed their sentences, but remain barred from participating in the American electoral process. 

Through an initiative called "Case in Point," The Takeaway is examining the criminal justice system in partnership with The Marshall Project. Today we examine the case of Thompson v. Alabama, which was filed last month by the Campaign Legal Center. It challenges a provision of the Alabama state constitution that allows election registrars to determine voter eligibility for those with a felony conviction based on their own interpretation of what constitutes a crime of "moral turpitude."

Andrew Cohen, commentary editor for The Marshall Project and author of Case in Point, and Danielle Lang, the deputy director of voting rights at The Campaign Legal Center, describe the case and what's at stake.  You can read the full "Case in Point" article by Andrew Cohen at The Marshall Project. 

Originally aired on October 25, 2016 on WNYC Public Radio. Listen here.