The Ballot Bulletin: Remembering Selma

This year, state advocates and incarcerated and formerly incarcerated activists from Massachusetts to Texas are working to guarantee voting rights for people completing their sentence inside and outside of prison and jail, and for people post-sentence. Nationally, more than 4 million people are disenfranchised from voting due to a felony conviction.

Remembering Selma

Earlier this year, The Sentencing Project joined other members of the National Voting in Prison Coalition working to end felony disenfranchisement in Selma, Alabama, during the Selma Jubilee marking the 60th anniversary of the Bloody Sunday march and the Voting Rights Act. While the Jubilee commemorated an important moment in our nation’s history, it was also a reminder that the fight for voting rights continues.

As we marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge following in the footsteps of luminaries such as Congressman John Lewis, Amelia Boynton Robinson, and Dr. Martin Luther King, we watched an elderly couple hold each other with each step, their intertwined arms a testament to the body politic of those who came before us. We departed, deeply troubled about a problem that largely went unaddressed: felony voting bans.

This year, state lawmakers in a few states — Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and Oregon — considered legislation to restore voting rights to all Americans, regardless of conviction status. Expanding voting rights in these states would bring them in line with Maine, Vermont, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C.

Inspired by the legacy of Selma, The Sentencing Project through its participation in the National Voting in Prison Coalition is committed to ending felony disenfranchisement.

Advocacy in the States

Maryland

This year, lawmakers considered House Bill 710 to repeal the prohibition on voting by incarcerated adults serving a felony sentence. The bill also mandated the State Board of Elections establish a toll-free voter hotline for incarcerated individuals to receive voter information, among other provisions. The Sentencing Project testified in support of the bill and partnered with state advocates and formerly incarcerated activists to educate lawmakers and the public on the importance of expanding voting rights to more than 16,000 Marylanders regardless of conviction status.

Massachusetts

During 2025, incarcerated and formerly incarcerated activists joined voting rights advocates with the  Democracy Behind Bars Coalition to testify in front of the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Election Laws in support of a constitutional amendment to restore voting rights to all state residents. More than 7,300 incarcerated constituents would have their voting rights restored by these voting rights reforms. The Sentencing Project testified in support of the constitutional amendments and provided strategic communications support to the coalition.

Nevada

On May 7, The Sentencing Project joined Mass Liberation NV for the organization’s Formerly Incarcerated People’s Day in support of civic engagement of justice-impacted people and state priorities to challenge the criminal legal system. Formerly incarcerated advocates traveled to the Capitol in Carson City from Las Vegas and were joined by Assemblymember Jovan Jackson, a formerly incarcerated activist recently elected to the state assembly. State and national advocates also sent a sign-on letter to legislators in support of criminal legal reforms and civic engagement initiatives for formerly incarcerated people.

New Mexico

This year, advocates hoped to build on 2023’s historic effort to enfranchise New Mexicans on parole and probation with the passage of HJR 10 which would enfranchise all eligible New Mexicans, including those currently incarcerated. The Sentencing Project traveled to New Mexico to participate in End Mass Incarceration Day alongside Millions for Prisoners and the ACLU of New Mexico and organized a national sign-on letter for the effort. While HJR 10 did not pass this year, advocates continue to work to expand civic engagement for people with convictions in the land of enchantment.

Texas

Nearly 480,000 people are disenfranchised in Texas due to a felony conviction, more than in any state except Florida. Formerly incarcerated advocates and civil rights organizations organized to support SB 631, which would restore voting rights to an estimated 327,000 Texans on felony probation and parole, and HB 590 to notify people with felony convictions when their voting rights have been restored. The Sentencing Project joined advocates for a press conference with legislators and released a sign-on letter to committee members urging a hearing and passage of the bills. We also worked with directly impacted Texans to amplify op-eds and social media posts supporting enfranchisement efforts.

Other Updates

Alabama – State Senators advanced SB 153 to streamline the process of restoring voting rights to certain residents with felony convictions.  Under current law, people with felony convictions must have their voting rights restored by the Board of Pardons and Parole. Among other provisions, SB 153 would require the BPP to post instructions on rights restoration for people subjected to the state’s felony voting ban.

Colorado – Nearly 2,600 incarcerated people voted in person in local jails during the 2024 general election. That’s a substantial increase from the 231 people who were reported to vote in the 2022 general election. Improved ballot access at Colorado’s county jails is due to the enactment of Senate Bill 24-072, “Voting for Confined Eligible Electors,” which required in person voting access for incarcerated voters.

Connecticut – Earlier this year, lawmakers considered House Bill 7299. The measure would establish a formal absentee ballot process for voters incarcerated pretrial or completing misdemeanor sentences.

Georgia – The State Senate passed Senate Resolution 249 to establish a committee to assess felony disenfranchisement.

Illinois – Groups sent a letter to Gov. J.B. Pritzker to demand his support for Senate Bill 1733, the Reintegration and Civic Empowerment (RACE) Act. The bill would restore voting rights to all people completing their felony sentence in prison 14 days after incarceration.

Kentucky – Earlier this year, the Kentucky League of Women Voters hosted an advocacy day to build public awareness to support restoring voting rights to state residents with felony convictions.

Mississippi – This year, at least 60 bills were filed by state residents in the Mississippi Legislature to restore voting rights individually. Lawmakers also considered legislation to automatically restore voting rights to residents with certain nonviolent felony convictions.

Nebraska – Lawmakers considered legislation to remove voting barriers for voters in jails, hospitals, and care centers.

Oregon – This year, HB 3785 was introduced to end felony disenfranchisement and expand voting rights to more than 13,000 Oregonians completing their felony sentence in prison or jail.