NJ Considers Letting Prisoners Vote

What’s the story?

Returning the voting rights of citizens who’ve been incarcerated has been the focus of legislation in many states around the country. Florida, which has had some of the strictest laws restricting the formerly incarcerated from voting, has a new law on the ballot in November. But only two states -- Maine and Vermont -- actually allow citizens to vote while in prison or on parole. Some lawmakers now want New Jersey to add itself to that list.

In New Jersey, African-Americans comprise 60 percent of the NJ prison population, but only 15 percent of the general population. Supporters of the law argue that, given these disparities, disenfranchisement of prisoners and those on parole violates the Constitution. Specifically, constitutional prohibitions against restricting access to voting due to race.

Approximately 94,000 potential voters could be affected if the law changes.

Shavonda Sumter, a Democratic state assemblywoman from Paterson, N.J., told the Wall Street Journal, "We do not want to mix the punishment of actually serving time in prison for a crime you’ve committed with stripping away these fundamental human rights."

Critics of the law, like Republican State Sen. Gerald Cardinale, worry prisoners would create a voting bloc that would support laws rolling back criminal punishments. Maine and Vermont protect against that possibility by only allowing prisoners to vote via absentee ballot in the district they last lived in prior to conviction, rather than the district in which they are housed.

Support of prisoner’s right to vote doesn’t always fall along party lines. Republicans in Vermont have said they will oppose any measure to end inmate voting.

Mike Donohue,a spokesman for the Vermont Republican Party told NBC News, "The last thing we want to do is start putting up insurmountable barriers to participation in civic life because someone may have been convicted of a crime. People’s right to vote is sacred."

Joseph Jackson, who was incarcerated in Maine for close to two decades, told NBC, "Having some sense of community and being part of the society is really necessary."

What do you think?

Should New Jersey, and other states, enact legislation to enfranchise prisoners and those on parole? Why or why not? What about those who’ve completed their time and parole, and paid any and all restitution? Who benefits from the disenfranchisement of incarcerated citizens? Who benefits if they are returned their right to vote?

Tell us in the comments what you think, then use the Take Action button to tell your reps!

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— Asha Sanaker

(Photo Credit: EU Law Analysis)