Ending Felony Disenfranchisement
We are thrilled that incarcerated eligible voters (those held pretrial or for misdemeanor convictions) will be able to access the ballot box. Our long term goal is to make sure that incarceration stops no citizen from voting by ending felony disenfranchisement altogether, joining Maine, Vermont, and Washington, D.C. in doing so.
Felony disenfranchisement exacerbates the systemic racism of the criminal legal system but provides no deterrent or punitive use. On the contrary, civic participation by those behind the walls reduces recidivism by creating durable ties to community back home.
In 2000, relatively recently, a reactionary ballot measure revoked the right to vote while incarcerated in Massachusetts. The African American Coalition Committee, Democracy Behind Bars Coalition and other groups are working towards a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment to be placed on the ballot before Massachusetts voters within a few years.
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In January 2025, Senator Liz Miranda and Representative Erika Uyterhoeven re-introduced S. 7 and H. 63, constitutional amendments that would restore voting rights to people incarcerated for felony convictions. In early April 2025, the Joint Committee on Election Laws held a hearing on the bill where dozens of supporters testified.​ If your organization or coalition would like to endorse universal voting restoration, please fill out this form.
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To complement our legislative advocacy, we are prepared to launch a signature collection effort in fall 2025 to showcase growing momentum in Massachusetts. To find various ways to get involved, please fill out this volunteer form.​