Booker, Cardin, Reid Introduce Bill to Create Nationwide Standard for Restoring Voting Rights to Americans Released from Prison

Press Release

U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) along with Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), have introduced a bill, the Democracy Restoration Act, to strengthen communities by reducing recidivism rates through the restoration of voting rights to individuals after they have served their time and have been released from incarceration. S. 772 would restore voting rights in federal elections to the million Americans who are out of prison and living in the community. Studies indicate that former prisoners who have voting rights restored are less likely to reoffend, and that disenfranchisement hinders their rehabilitation and reintegration into their community.

They were joined by Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Constitution Subcommittee Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), and Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.). Companion legislation will be introduced today in the House of Representatives by Congressman John Conyers (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee.

In the United States, an estimated 5.85 million adult citizens are currently disenfranchised as a result of a criminal conviction. While 15 states and the District of Columbia already restore voting rights upon release from prison, 35 states continue to restrict the voting rights of people who are no longer incarcerated. In 11 States, a conviction can result in lifetime disenfranchisement. Several States deny the right to vote to individuals convicted of certain misdemeanors. Earlier this month, the Maryland Senate passed legislation that would restore voting rights for former felons on parole or probation.

"If we expect to live up to our national ideals of liberty and justice for all, we must ensure that our democratic process is as consistent and fair as possible. It's not fair to deny the constitutionally-protected right to vote to people who have paid their debt to society." Senator Booker said. "By reinstating voting rights for those who have been rehabilitated, we can empower people to become better citizens, reduce recidivism rates, and improve not only the health of our democracy, but of our communities."

"The United States is one of the few Western democracies that allows the permanent denial of voting rights for individuals with felony convictions. State disenfranchisement laws deny citizens participation in our democracy and the patchwork of laws leads to an unfair disparity and unequal participation in Federal elections based solely on where an individual lives, in addition to the racial disparities inherent in our judicial system," said Senator Cardin. "Congress has a responsibility to remedy these problems and enact a nationwide standard for the restoration of voting rights."

"This legislation is about simple fairness for those who have paid their debt to society. It goes against the core of who we are as a nation to continuously punish those who have served their time and are working to reintegrate into our society. Passing the Democracy Restoration Act would right this wrong," Senator Reid said.

Source