Massachusetts Should Restore Voting Rights to Over 7,700 Citizens - More than 7,700 Massachusetts citizens are banned from voting in elections due to incarceration for a felony

Massachusetts Should Restore Voting Rights to Over 7,700 Citizens More than 7,700 Massachusetts citizens are banned from voting in elections due to incarceration for a felony conviction.1 In 2000, Massachusetts disenfranchised this entire population through a constitutional amendment stripping its citizens of their political voice.2 People of color in particular are more likely to be prohibited fr. [...] Voter Exclusion Due to Incarceration for a Felony in Expanding Voting Rights in Massachusetts is Massachusetts by Race and Ethnicity, 2022 a Racial Justice Issue Being denied the right to vote is particularly acute for 800 Black and Latinx residents of Massachusetts due to their disproportionate incarceration. [...] Estimates meaningful and sustaining positive influence on jus- showed that a neighborhood with 85% Black resi- tice-impacted citizens by making them feel they belong dents would generate over 600 more FIO reports in a to a community.7 Having a say and a stake in the life and year than a neighborhood with only 15% Black resi- well-being of your community is at the heart of our de- dents. [...] In comparable cases, prosecutors in rates of subsequent arrest, incarceration, and self-re- were more likely to send Black or Latinx defendants ported criminal behavior.”8 Research also suggests hav- to the Superior Court versus white defendants.5 The ing the right to vote immediately after incarceration Superior Courts of Massachusetts are the only courts matters for public safety. [...] Individuals in states which with the authority to sentence individuals convicted continued to restrict the right to vote after incarceration of a felony to a state prison for longer than two and were found to have a higher likelihood of experiencing half years.