Voting Rights for All
The Sentencing Project believes all eligible voters should have the right to participate in our democracy, regardless of their conviction or incarceration status. We support national, state, and local advocacy efforts to expand voting rights for people with any felony convictions. We develop national and international comparative reports, provide national coalition leadership, and support state and local partners through research, advocacy, and strategic communications.
Explore our state voting rights campaign below.
State Voting Rights Campaigns
In states across the country, The Sentencing Project works alongside our state and local partners to advocate for changes to policies and practices to expand voting rights for people with felony convictions. Since 2016, 26 states and the District of Columbia expanded access to the ballot. These changes reduced the total number of people in the U.S. ineligible to vote because of a felony conviction from an estimated 5.9 million people in 2016 to an estimated 4 million today.
National Voting Rights Advocacy
The Sentencing Project convenes coalitions, supports the field, and drives national narratives around voting rights for people with criminal convictions. We support the federal Inclusive Democracy Act and other strategies to guarantee the right to vote for people with felony convictions in federal elections. The Sentencing Project co-convenes the National Voting In Prison coalition, convenes an annual Civic Power convening, and hosts regular learning spaces including webinars for state and national advocates working to expand the franchise.
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Take Action: Support the Inclusive Democracy Act
Take ActionIf you agree it's time to ensure EVERY eligible resident has an equal say in our democracy, use this form to urge your members of Congress to co-sponsor and pass the Inclusive Democracy Act.
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Civic Power
Learn moreJoin us July 9-13 to discuss advocacy campaigns to advance voting rights for all justice impacted communities.
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Webinar: Locked out 2024
Watch the webinarOur latest report on state estimates of felony disenfranchisement found that 4 million Americans were prohibited from voting in the 2024 election due to a felony conviction.
Guaranteeing Voting Rights in Jails
The Sentencing Project works collaboratively with national, state, and local advocates to guarantee voting rights for voters in jail. This advocacy highlights the importance of reform, as many incarcerated individuals, particularly persons awaiting trial, are legally allowed to vote in every state, while persons serving misdemeanor sentences are legally allowed to vote in most states. Barriers to the ballot for incarcerated voters include bureaucratic obstacles to registering to vote and casting a ballot absentee or in person. Advocacy in recent years resulted in in-person voting centers at local jails in Illinois, Colorado, and Texas.
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Jail-Based Voting Resources
ResourcesExplore state voter guides, toolkits to assist advocates and incarcerated voters, sample mailers and handouts, and reports on jail-based voting.
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Advocacy Strategies to #UnlocktheVote in Jails
Voting in jails advocacy strategiesThis advocacy brief highlights strategies to improve ballot access for incarcerated people who are legally eligible to vote.
Research
The Sentencing Project’s cutting edge research defines the problem of disenfranchisement and supports advocates.
Locked Out 2024: Four Million Denied Voting Rights Due to a Felony Conviction
Our bi-annual report provides national and state-by-state estimates on the number of people disenfranchised because of a felony conviction.
Despite no longer being incarcerated, I am still considered "less than" a citizen because the state of Texas will not allow me to vote for another 26 years while I remain on parole. If I live to see that day, I will be 81 years old when I can cast my ballot. This is an injustice to my dignity and humanity as a human being and a citizen of the United States of America.
