Disenfranchisement of Felons
Imani Weeks, Katarina Backo, Isabel Medlock, & Kobe
Nabried
Our Mission
There has been a decrease in voter turnout in
Philadelphia. There are certain issues that correlate
to this decline. Our group decided to focus on the
disenfranchisement of felons because felons don’t
realize their ability to vote.
Our Mission
While completing the Committee Seventy survey, we
encountered a person who told us that because he was a
felon, he couldn’t vote therefore couldn’t take our
survey. If more people knew that they were eligible for
voting, then the number of voters showing up on Election
Day would definitely increase.
Current System
People who are not allowed to vote:
Felons who are currently in jail and will not be
released before Election Day
-orSomeone who has broken an election law in the past 4
years
Change in Ruling
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania made a ruling on December 26,
2000:
It was unconstitutional to have felons wait 5 years
after release to register to vote.
If completing an older version of Voter Registration
Mail Application (VRMA), the convicted felon can just
strike the felony conviction line.
Not Many People KNow Felons Can Vote
Felons are sometimes ostracized in a community, therefore
do not know their rights. Along with the facts that the law
was changed recently and people don’t focus in municipal
rulings, more people need to know they can fill their
responsibility as a citizen.
Raising Awareness
Since not many people, including felons, to increase
voter turnout we can raise awareness of felons’ voting
rights. We propose, setting up billboards, ads, and
posters in public areas such as train stations and
highways that would raise awareness of the fact that
felons CAN vote. The following slides are examples of the
posters that can be placed for people to learn their
rights.
Workshops
In addition to raising awareness through posters and
ads we would also run workshops that informed felons on
key voting information. Workshops will be set up for
felons in community centers around Philadelphia as well as
prisons themselves for those who get released close to
Election Day.
Workshops
The convicted felons will be taught:
How to register
How to fill a ballot
What ward they belong to
The polling place within their district
We would also teach felons about each office and what it
entails. As Election Day approaches we will also provide
them resources so they can do their own research on each
candidate. We not only want voters but informed voters!
Program Proposal
This workshop will be able to help raise voter turnout
in Philadelphia by raising ex-con awareness of
Pennsylvania voting policies.
There are former convicts
in the city that are under the impression that they cannot
vote because they have served a prison sentence. With the
help of this workshop ex-cons will have the tools and
necessary skills to be active voters.
Annotated Bibliography
"Voting Restrictions Greatly Affect Ex-felons." The Philadelphia Tribune. N.p., n.d.
Web. 13 Nov. 2015. http://www.phillytrib.com/news/voting-restrictions-greatly-affectex-felons/article_842242d8-6596-5c0e-8416-5aa8289c64c1.html
"American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania." Voting with a Criminal Conviction.
N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2015.
http://www.aclupa.org/issues/votingissues/votingrightsofexfelons/
This source provided information on who was eligible and ineligible to vote.
"PA.gov." Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2015.
http://www.pbpp.pa.gov/Understanding%20Parole/VR/Pages/default.aspx#.VkJCCNWrTnA
Information on residency rules for PA residents
"CRIMES CODE OFFENSES." 204 Pa. Code § 303.15. Offense Listing. N.p., n.d. Web. 13
Nov. 2015. <http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/204/chapter303/s303.15.html>.
Statistical evidence on convicts and felons and the crimes that they committed. Crimes
code offenses.
Annotated Bibliography
"State Felon Voting Laws - Felon Voting - ProCon.org." ProConorg Headlines. N.p., n.d.
Web. 13 Nov. 2015.
<http://felonvoting.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000286>.
We used this source to find what the different voting laws in each state where. We
used this information in one of our posters.
"Pennsylvania Felony Charges and Sentencing for Convictions | Criminal Law."
CriminalDefenseLawyer.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2015.
http://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/resources/criminal-defense/state-felonylaws/pennsylvania-felony-class.htm
We used this source to find examples of different types of felonies.
"Voter Registration Requirements." Student's Guide to Elections (2008): n. pag.
Felonvoting.procon.org. VotesPA. Web.
<http://felonvoting.procon.org/sourcefiles/Pennsylvania_Voting_Rule.pdf>
We used this source to find rules for felon voting eligibility.