The bi-partisan National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2009 (S. 714) was passed out of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary today by voice vote. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) would create a commission to conduct a thorough evaluation of the nation's justice system and offer recommendations for reform at every stage of the criminal justice system.

Washington State: 9^th Circuit Court Reverses Disenfranchising Law; Landmark Decision Could Go to Supreme Court
Virginia: Coalitions Have a Week to Urge Governor to Change Disenfranchisement Policy

Disenfranchisement reform received a great deal of attention throughout 2009, spurred in part by the excitement behind a historic presidential race at the close of 2008. Advocacy campaigns and media coverage gave light to the many individuals throughout the nation who were able to vote for the first time after having their rights restored.  More than a decade after The Sentencing Project began to campaign on this issue, disenfranchisement reform has won editorial support in the media, gained legislative momentum from policymakers, and has been highlighted as a key area of research in the academic community.

The following is a selection of the highlights of disenfranchisement activity during 2009 in the areas of policy change, media attention, international reform, litigation, organizational support and advocacy, and research.

An estimated 5.3 million American citizens cannot vote because of a criminal conviction. Of these, 4 million are out of prison and living and working in the community. Restoring a person’s right to vote is a critical element to successful reentry into society after incarceration and consistent with our democracy’s modern ideal of universal suffrage.

Please join a panel discussion from 1 p.m. to 2:30 PM at the Dirksen Senate Office, Room 226, as experts explore this issue and its impact, as well as ways to address it through the Democracy Restoration Act, S.1516 and H.R.3335. This legislation would restore the right to vote in federal elections to people who are out of prison and living in the community. Please RSVP by emailing garima.malhotra@nyu.edu or call 212.998.6740.

Virginia: Governor’s Swan Song to the Tune of Restoring Votes
National: Chicken Stealers Disenfranchised – Then and Now