Over 15,000 Washingtonians Denied the Right to Vote
New Sentencing Project brief details how felony voting bans disenfranchise thousands
Related to: Voting Rights
[Washington, D.C.] – According to a new brief from The Sentencing Project, more than 15,000 Washington State residents are barred from voting, not because they are ineligible citizens, but because they are currently completing felony-level sentences. These voting bans perpetuate racial injustices that are deeply entrenched in our criminal legal system. They undermine our democracy by disproportionately excluding communities of color from fair political representation in Washington State.
Black citizens are five times as likely as non-Black citizens to be stripped of their voting rights. Latino citizens are twice as likely as non-Latino citizens to lose their rights due to felony voting bans. Losing the right to vote is a result of disparate treatment by the criminal legal system, particularly for Black Washingtonians who experience an increased chance of interaction with law enforcement, an increased chance of receiving prison time for felony offenses, and a greater chance of spending longer in prison. Despite comprising only 4% of the state population, over 18% of Washington State’s prison population is Black.
Since 1997, 26 states and the District of Columbia have expanded voting rights for people with felony convictions, restoring the franchise to more than 2 million Americans nationwide. Research shows that civic participation strengthens community ties and enables successful reentry. Continued voter exclusion in Washington State undermines both public safety and betrays democratic principles.
“While Washington was not a slaveholding state, it adopted many of the laws of the Jim Crow South early in its statehood. These vestiges of racism can still be seen in laws such as criminal disenfranchisement and racial disparities in incarceration rates as outlined in this report,” said Anthony Blakenship, Senior Community Organizer with Civil Survival. “In a time where we are seeing attacks on democracy and communities of color, the Washington Legislature has the opportunity to do more than pay lip service to defending marginalized communities by showing its citizens that Democracy belongs to us all.
The Free the Vote Act (HB 1196) aims to restore voting rights to people who are incarcerated in Washington State by enshrining voting as a fundamental right, regardless of involvement in the criminal legal system. Ballot Access in Jails (HB 1146) would require jails to establish jail coordinators and provide basic support to enable voting in jail including registration forms, informative pamphlets, and private areas for ballot completion.
“As a State Representative who was once incarcerated, I found healing and a pathway to success through civic engagement. Learning about issues in my community and how to make a positive impact started with learning how to vote,” noted Washington State Representative Tarra Simmons, sponsor of House Bills 1146 and 1196 respectively. “This is one right that incarcerated people should have as it helps maintain their connections to the community and leads to positive public safety upon their release.”
“As a currently incarcerated person, having the right to vote is recognition of our humanity,” said Charles Longshore, Skokomish Tribal Member, State Wide Campaign Co- Lead at Dream.org, and community organizer with I Did The Time. “We are still citizens of this great State, who care deeply about the issues and times we are in. Now is the time where every vote must count and all citizens regardless of incarceration should be afforded this fundamental right.”
“Washington State now has an opportunity to address the racial inequities embedded in its criminal legal system. Restoring voting rights to all incarcerated citizens and providing access to the ballot for eligible people in jails strengthens democracy, promotes racial justice, and affirms that civic participation is a cornerstone of belonging,” said Bob Libal, senior campaign strategist at The Sentencing Project. “By ensuring access to the ballot regardless of incarceration status, Washington State can amplify voices long silenced by systemic injustice and reaffirm its commitment to a fair, inclusive, and representative democracy.
On Friday, January 23, 2026 a coalition of organizations including FairVoteWA, Washingtonian Voting Justice Coalition, and impacted voters will host Democracy Lobby Day 2026 at the United Churches of Olympia. Held on Ranked-Choice Voting Day, this event will include policy briefings on the 2026 Voter Power Package, a rally with elected leaders, meetings with state legislators, and special sessions examining the current state of voting and election policy in Washington.
This event is co-hosted by Washington for Equitable Representation, Redistricting Justice for Washington, People Powered Elections WA, and Free the Vote Washington. Registration for Democracy Lobby Day 2026 is available here.
