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Felony Disenfranchisement

A White man wearing a black T-shirt, a gray long-sleeved shirt and blue jeans, holds a clipboard with a voter registration form. A Black woman wearing a light gray cardigan and holding a black purse, points at the registration form as they stand at the entrance of a building. People are standing in front of them in a line.
Closing Argument October 19
Voting Rights Confusion Keeps Formerly Incarcerated People from Casting Ballots
Even when they’re eligible to vote.
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A Black woman with short hair, wearing a patterned-pink jacket, sits in a chair in a courtroom with a small smile on her face.
Inside Story October 17
Americans With Past Convictions Fight to Regain Right to Vote
A Tennessee woman tries to regain her right to vote after a conviction, and entrepreneur Topeka Sam talks about what she learned while in prison.
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A photo of John Cook, a White man with gray shoulder-length hair, a gray beard, glasses and a green shirt. Cook is looking into the distance while standing outdoors under a tree.
Jackson October 1
‘A Life Sentence.’ How Mississippi’s Forever Voting Ban Keeps Thousands From the Polls.
The state’s disenfranchisement law punishes people with nonviolent offenses, as reform fails in the Legislature and courts.
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An illustration of a Black man standing on one side of a scale, reaching up toward a ballot box on the other end of the scale.
Jackson July 24
Who Can and Can’t Vote in Mississippi: A Guide to the State’s Lifetime Voting Ban
This guide offers details about the state’s disenfranchisement laws and how you may still be able to vote from jail, even with a conviction.
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Jackson June 20
Mississippi Wants to Allow Some Votes From Jails and Prisons. Red Tape May Stop It.
A new state law will allow more people in jails and prisons to cast absentee ballots, but many obstacles remain.
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Analysis December 22, 2022
Some of Our Best Work of 2022
From coverage of prison violence and abuses in a juvenile lockup to investigations by our new Cleveland team, our reporters told stories that made a difference.
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A Black man in a blue T-shirt covers his eyes with one hand as he stands in his front yard. A police officer, wearing protective gear with the words "FDLE Police" on it, stands left of him in the background.
News November 4, 2022
Florida’s Voter Fraud Arrests Are Scaring Away Formerly Incarcerated Voters
DeSantis made a spectacle of arresting voters with felony convictions. Now, some eligible voters are opting out of midterms even beyond Florida.
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A Black man in a tan prison uniform uses a touch screen to vote at a polling place inside a jail.
Closing Argument October 29, 2022
Why Millions of Americans Will Be Left Out of the Midterms
Even in states where some people with felony convictions — and those awaiting trial in jail — have the right to vote, actually casting a ballot remains difficult.
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An illustration showcases Ryan Moser, who is currently incarcerated, floating and emitting a pink light while Desmond Meade points to him as he delivers an inspirational speech.
Life Inside February 25, 2022
The Genius Speech That Changed My Life
Words like “junkie,” “destitute” and “criminal” have applied to me at some point in my life. Hearing the formerly incarcerated voting rights activist Desmond Meade speak at my prison reminded me that my sky is full of stars, my heart is full of hope and my future is full of promise.
By Ryan M. Moser
News June 23, 2021
Millions of People With Felonies Can Now Vote. Most Don’t Know It.
In a handful of key states, no more than 1 in 4 formerly incarcerated people registered in time for the 2020 election, a Marshall Project analysis found.
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