Share:
House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 24, 2023 03:09 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Carol Kazeem |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Supporting the Voting Rights of Formerly Incarcerated Pennsylvanians |
| The right to vote is at the core of our democracy, and it is essential that everyone who is eligible to vote understands their right to participate in the democratic process. Pennsylvania is one of 21 states where people who were formerly incarcerated for felonies regain the right to vote upon release.[1] Unfortunately, because of confusion about the laws of different states and a lack of education, many people do not know that their voting rights are restored once they serve their sentence and re-enter society. It is difficult to assess the extent of de facto voter disenfranchisement because of limited data, but existing evidence suggests that voting levels among individuals formerly convicted of a felony are lower than they are for the general population. The consequences are not limited to election results — disenfranchising voters may create a ripple effect leading to lower levels of political and civic engagement throughout our communities. Because of this, I plan to introduce a resolution to direct the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study on the voting habits of formerly incarcerated qualified voters and their knowledge of their eligibility to vote. More information on this subject will allow us to better inform the public on voter rights and eligibility in Pennsylvania. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation and help eligible voters exercise their right to vote. Your consideration is appreciated. |
Introduced as HR47