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Millions of Americans are barred from voting because of criminal convictions in their past. Felony disenfranchisement laws, relics of our Jim Crow past, hit African Americans disproportionately hard. We advance policies to re-enfranchise Americans who are living in our community.

Ensure Every American Hands Ensure Every American Can Vote

Why It Matters

State felony disenfranchisement laws keep millions of Americans from voting. These laws aren’t just anti-democratic — they send the message that the voices of individuals returning to their communities don’t count. And these voting bans disproportionately affect African Americans.

But we can change this. In 2018, Florida voters passed a ballot measure that re-enfranchised about 1.4 million Floridians — an outcome we have worked on for nearly two decades. Other states are considering similar reforms. And we’re urging Congress to pass federal legislation that would re-enfranchise in federal elections the millions of Americans who are no longer incarcerated but still can’t vote.

Solutions

Restore Voting Rights to Citizens With Past Criminal Convictions

Congress should pass the Democracy Restoration Act, and states should also ensure that if you’re a voting-age citizen living in the community, you get to vote.

Read more in our Democracy solutions report.

Our Experts