By Judith Grether Voting Rights for All! One of the most moving experiences of my life came in 2004 when I had the opportunity, as a volunteer with Voting Rights for All!, to inform a man long-off parole that as a California resident and U.S. citizen who was not currently in prison or on parole, he could vote. In all the years since he had paid his debt to society, he thought he was forever barred from voting…and no one had told him otherwise. With tears in his eyes (and mine), he said “sign me up”! In subsequent months and years, those of us working to spread the word about voting rights for ex-offenders in California have repeatedly had similar, deeply memorable experiences. We have encountered widespread misinformation and disbelief, among offenders, their families, and friends…and perhaps most tellingly, among criminal defense attorneys, prosecutors, judges, and other legal professionals. Even among county registrars of voters, misinformation remains common and institutional silence pervasive. Finally, the walls of silence are starting to crumble. What we have learned is that that man was not alone. Many people in California are not aware that, in this state, a felony conviction does not bar someone from voting…only people who are actually in prison or on parole are disqualified. These provisions were written into California law in 1974, more than 30 years ago (Cal. Const. Art. II, section 4; Cal. Elec. Code section 2101). A ...
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By Judith Grether Voting Rights for All! One of the most moving experiences of my life came in 2004 when I had the opportunity, as a volunteer with Voting Rights for All!, to inform a man long-off parole that as a California resident and U.S. citizen who was not currently in prison or on parole, he could vote. In all the years since he had paid his debt to society, he thought he was forever barred from voting…and no one had told him otherwise. With tears in his eyes (and mine), he said “sign me up”! In subsequent months and years, those of us working to spread the word about voting rights for ex-offenders in California have repeatedly had similar, deeply memorable experiences. We have encountered widespread misinformation and disbelief, among offenders, their families, and friends…and perhaps most tellingly, among criminal defense attorneys, prosecutors, judges, and other legal professionals. Even among county registrars of voters, misinformation remains common and institutional silence pervasive. Finally, the walls of silence are starting to crumble. What we have learned is that that man was not alone. Many people in California are not aware that, in this state, a felony conviction does not bar someone from voting…only people who are actually in prison or on parole are disqualified. These provisions were written into California law in 1974, more than 30 years ago (Cal. Const. Art. II, section 4; Cal. Elec. Code section 2101). A ...