PRINTER'S NO. 666
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
47
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY KAZEEM, SANCHEZ, PROBST, HOHENSTEIN, HILL-EVANS,
YOUNG, BURGOS, PARKER, DELLOSO, WAXMAN, KINSEY, MADDEN,
CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, WARREN, KRAJEWSKI, CONKLIN, HOWARD, BELLMON,
KHAN AND FLEMING, MARCH 27, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, MARCH 27, 2023
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a
study on voting patterns and knowledge about voting rights
among formerly incarcerated qualified electors in
Pennsylvania and submit a report of its findings and
recommendations to the House of Representatives.
WHEREAS, The Department of Corrections operates facilities
where more than 36,000 incarcerated Pennsylvanians reside; and
WHEREAS, State law provides that individuals with a felony
conviction may exercise their right to vote upon release from a
correctional facility; and
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is one of 21 states where former
felons regain the right to vote upon release; and
WHEREAS, Confusion over the laws of different states and
changes in Commonwealth law in recent decades may lead some
formerly incarcerated Pennsylvanians to believe they have
permanently lost the right to vote; and
WHEREAS, Some states disenfranchise individuals convicted of
misdemeanors, causing uncertainty among Pennsylvanians who are
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not informed about the Commonwealth's voting laws; and
WHEREAS, A 2005 report published by The Sentencing Project
found that 37% of local officials surveyed in several states
were unfamiliar with their state's voting eligibility law or
unable to describe it correctly; and
WHEREAS, A lack of recent information about the voting
patterns of qualified voters who were formerly incarcerated in
this Commonwealth clouds the ability of the General Assembly to
act to ensure that all qualified electors are aware of their
right to vote and able to exercise it; and
WHEREAS, Ensuring that formerly incarcerated Pennsylvanians
are aware of and able to exercise the right to vote may increase
community and civic engagement; and
WHEREAS, Collecting data about the voting habits and
awareness of formerly incarcerated Pennsylvanians will help
policymakers identify problems, address existing knowledge gaps
and increase voter engagement; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
State Government Commission to conduct a study on voting
patterns and knowledge about voting rights among formerly
incarcerated qualified electors in Pennsylvania and submit a
report of its findings and recommendations to the House of
Representatives; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the study conducted by the Joint State
Government Commission include, but not be limited to, the
following:
(1) Rates of voter participation among qualified
electors who were formerly incarcerated.
(2) The number of qualified electors who were formerly
incarcerated.
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(3) The relationship between length of incarceration and
rates of voter participation.
(4) Self-reported information about future voting
intentions from qualified electors who were formerly
incarcerated.
(5) Information relating to the knowledge of corrections
employees about the relevant laws permitting formerly
incarcerated Pennsylvanians to vote.
(6) Self-reported experiences with incorrect information
about felony or misdemeanor disenfranchisement during a
period of incarceration.
(7) Barriers that formerly incarcerated qualified
electors face when attempting to exercise the right to vote.
(8) Recommendations to improve the civic knowledge of
qualified electors who were formerly incarcerated and
corrections employees;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission accept
and review oral or written comments, documents and other
information from individuals seeking to provide input regarding
this study; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission issue a
report of its findings and recommendations to the House of
Representatives no later than one year after the adoption of
this resolution.
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