Restoring the Right to Vote


 

Publication Date: January 2008

Publisher: Brennan Center for Justice

Author(s): Erika Wood

Research Area: Politics

Keywords: Democracy; Voting After Criminal Conviction; Voting Rights & Elections

Type: Report

Abstract:

Despite a history of expanding the franchise, there remains one significant blanket barrier to the franchise. 5.3 million American citizens are not allowed to vote because of a felony conviction. As many as 4 million of these people live in our communities, but are still denied the right to vote because of a prior conviction.