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.
​
In January 2023, Senator Liz Miranda, Senator Adam Gomez and Representative Erika Uyterhoeven introduced S. 8/H. 26, constitutional amendments that would restore voting rights to people incarcerated for felony convictions. In April 2023, the amendments were given a favorable report by the Joint Election Laws Committee, a historic first move towards ensuring voting rights for all in the Bay State. The next step is for these amendments to be put to a vote during the next constitutional convention.
​
​The 2025-2026 Legislative Session poses a new opportunity! If your organization or coalition would like to endorse universal voting restoration, please fill out this form. We will keep you in the loop about more ways to get involved. ​