The United States is reportedly “out of step” with global norms regarding the disenfranchisement of citizens with felony convictions, says a recent report published by the Sentencing Project, Human Rights Watch, and the American Civil Liberties Union (see report).
As of 2022, approximately 4.4 million U.S. citizens were disenfranchised due to felony convictions. The report highlights that out of 136 countries with populations greater than 1.5 million, 73 do not frequently revoke the right to vote from individuals based on their criminal records. The remaining 63 countries impose fewer restrictions than the U.S., positioning the country as an outlier in this regard.
Several challenges impede the reduction of voter disenfranchisement in the U.S., including confusion over voting rights, cumbersome paperwork, and documentation requirements. In many states, individuals must pay all outstanding fines before being eligible to vote. Incarcerated persons held without conviction and the threat of criminal prosecution for unauthorized voting further contribute to the issue.
Jennifer Schroeder, who faced disenfranchisement in Minnesota, emphasized the significance of voting for reintegration into society. “Voting makes us feel like we belong, like we can actually reintegrate into society and have the power to shape our futures,” she said.
Recent trends show some states expanding voting rights protections. For instance, Florida passed Amendment 4 in 2018, restoring voting rights to individuals with felony convictions, excluding cases of murder and sex crimes, upon the completion of their sentences. In 2019, Kentucky Governor Beshear signed an executive order restoring the right to vote for those convicted of non-violent felonies who had completed their sentences. Additionally, eight states have moved to restore voting rights upon release from incarceration, whereas eleven states maintain permanent disenfranchisement for certain felony convictions. Furthermore, two states, along with the District of Columbia, allow all persons, including those incarcerated, to vote. Recently, the North Carolina Supreme Court declared a felony disenfranchisement law unconstitutional.