Democracy Denied in Maryland
Lawmakers fail to restore voting rights to incarcerated citizens, leaving thousands of Black voters without a voice.
Related to: Voting Rights, State Advocacy
[Washington, D.C.] – Nicole D. Porter, senior director of advocacy at The Sentencing Project offered the following statement on the failed passage of the Maryland Voting Rights for All Act:
“Although the recent passage of SB 241/ HB 115 which ensures that voting rights restoration is included as part of the reentry process for people who are leaving prison, has been encouraging, we are deeply disappointed that Maryland lawmakers once again failed to pass the Maryland Voting Rights for All Act. This bill is crucial to restoring voting rights for over 16,000 Marylanders who are banned from voting while serving time in prison for a felony conviction.
“Seventy percent of Maryland voters who are banned from casting a ballot due to a felony conviction are Black, even though only 31% of the voting eligible population is Black. This exclusion is rooted in the stark racial disparities inherent in the state’s criminal legal system.
“These disparities are not coincidental; they are the predictable outcome of policies that continue to silence communities of color. The assembly’s continued inaction represents a lack of urgency in addressing ongoing racial inequities in Maryland.
“As the legislature debates other measures that would strengthen fair representation for Marylanders, it is unacceptable that thousands of incarcerated Marylanders are left out of our democratic process yet again. Maryland cannot credibly champion its commitment to democracy while maintaining a system that denies so many citizens their fundamental rights. The legislature must end this discriminatory practice to ensure that every Marylander has the opportunity to participate in shaping their communities’ futures.
