Prison journalism: Prisoner's right to voteThe basic right to vote as a prisoner or ex-convict. Revoked or even deprived from in differing prisons in differing states and countries.
by Prison Journalism Project
09-06-2023 19:46
in Prison Journalism
The IEC ballot box used by voter's in South Africa Image: @IEC
Prison Journalism Project trains incarcerated writers to become journalists and publishes their stories. Subscribe to Inside Story to receive exclusive behind-the-scene looks at our best stories, as well as author profiles and other insights.
--
A couple weeks ago, I watched the final debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden as millions of other Americans did. But for me, it was an exercise in futility. As much as I want to vote, I can't. I was a prisoner at California's San Quentin State Prison until last January, and I'm out on parole. Under California law, a parolee does not have the right to vote.
My situation is not extraordinary. According to the Sentencing Project's Oct. 14 report, I am one of 5.2 million Americans, who cannot vote because they've been convicted of a felony. Even though I served more than 28 years in prison to pay for second-degree murder, I'm still not allowed what is arguably the most basic right of a citizen.
ALSO READ: Prison Journalism: When what goes around comes around' is a good thing
--
The United States is among the most punitive nations in the world when it comes to denying its citizens a vote. Eleven states take away felons' voting rights indefinitely for certain crimes. Another 21 states require a waiting period, often while the felon is on probation or parole. Only 18 states plus the District of Columbia immediately restore felons' voting rights after they are released from prison. And you have to be incarcerated in Maine, Vermont and the District of Columbia to actually retain voting rights while in prison, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
By comparison most of the countries in Europe allow prisoners to vote when released. Canada, South Africa and Israel allow prisoners to vote while incarcerated. Even Yigal Amir, Prime Minister Yitzak Rabin's assassin and one of the most despised citizens in the country, has had his voting rights upheld.
The United States must change the way it thinks about felons' voting rights. It's certainly started to do that. Twelve states have already loosened voting restrictions for felons in the last four years. But next week on Election Day voters in the largest state in the country, California, can give this movement an enormous boost. Currently, prisoners and parolees like me can't vote in California. Proposition 17 will change that and give every felon out on parole in California, like me, the right to cast a ballot. I can't cast a ballot in favor of Prop. 17, for President or anything else on Tuesday. But I hope it might be the last time that happens to me.
--
ALSO READ: Prison Journalism: Black and Gay in prison
Opponents of measures like Prop. 17 say that loss of voting privileges is not an additional punishment for being convicted of a felony, it is part of the punishment. No one told me that. I thought being incarcerated and losing my job, my home, my children's birthdays, graduations and marriages for 28 years was my punishment. I thought the goal of releasing me back into society was to encourage me to restart my life - to get a job, rebuild my family, participate in my community, and be counted to vote.
I also think prisoners should be allowed to vote while incarcerated, though Proposition 17 doesn't address this issue. Among the many objections to this are those who contend that prisoners disrupt elections. They say the incarcerated would be swing votes in close local contests. But that doesn't have to happen. Prisoners could continue to be registered in their pre-prison locations. I love America deeply, and even though I was away from home for a long time, I still had great concern for my community. My family and friends were still there. Prison was never my home.
The restoration of voting rights to convicted felons seem to particularly worry Republicans because they think Democrats will benefit, but that is not necessarily true. I have met and know many prisoners that are very conservative in their political views and have strong opinions on issues like birth control, immigration and foreign policy. They would vote solely for Republican-endorsed candidates and issues.
ALSO READ: Prison life: The daily routine of an inmate at Pollsmoor
I understand that some will say I'm the worst spokesman for this issue. After all, I killed another human with a bullet. I'd say I'm exactly the person who should be speaking up. I know what it's like to lose my right to vote. And now that the State of California has released me from custody, I know how important voting will be to my future success as an American citizen.
Written by Salvadore Solorio
This article was originally published in partnership with Prison Journalism Project, a national, independent news organisation that trains incarcerated writers to be journalists and publishes their writing.
Do you have contact with a prison inmate who would like to write for The South African website?
If so, send an email to info@thesouthafrican.com or a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211
You can also follow @TheSAnews on Twitter and The South African on Facebook to get the latest prisoner journalism articles.
Are you a true Skeem Saam soapie superfan? Please participate in our famous soapie quiz and WIN R1 000 in cash!
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
13/06/2026
Latest expansion pack includes 252 presets
Devious Machines have recently introduced another expansion for their powerful multi-effects plug-in, Infiltrator...
13/06/2026
Create custom DAW/plug-in controllers using prompts
MetaGrid have recently introduced an all-new AI Builder function to their touchscreen-based control surf...
13/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
YES Network and The Gotham Sports App will air seven Athletes Unlimited Softball...
12/06/2026
The United Football League will host its FAST Innovation Suite at the 2026 United Bowl presented by Credit One Bank on Saturday, June 13 at 3:00 p.m. ET at Audi...
12/06/2026
PTZOptics and LayerJot will present live demonstrations at InfoComm 2026 showing how natural-language AI prompting, robotic camera control, and on-device comput...
12/06/2026
MultiDyne Video and Fiber Optic Systems will exhibit at InfoComm 2026, featuring...
12/06/2026
Ateme has announced that Eurovision Services is using Ateme's software-based frame-rate conversion technology for international live event workflows. The de...
12/06/2026
Bitmovin and Simplestream have announced a partnership with Xperi to simplify the launch of OTT streaming services on TiVo OS smart TVs and devices. The collabo...
12/06/2026
Net Insight has announced that a multinational technology company is deploying a...
12/06/2026
MLB Players Inc., the business arm of the MLB Players Association, has announced a partnership with Athletes First to develop and sell brand partnerships across...
12/06/2026
Guntermann and Drunck (G&D) and VuWall have announced the CommandKeyboard-Advanc...
12/06/2026
Comcast Smart Solutions announces a new smart technology deployment with Major L...
12/06/2026
Elevation Worship completed the initial leg of its Elevation Nights 2026 tour ...
12/06/2026
AJA Video Systems has announced KONA IP25 support for Colorfront Transkoder and ...
12/06/2026
Audinate Group Limited (ASX: AD8) will exhibit at InfoComm 2026 (Booth C7321, Ce...
12/06/2026
Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould has announced the appointment of Scott Adametz as Chief Technology Officer. The Pac-12 describes the hire as the first CTO appo...
12/06/2026
Grass Valley has announced AMPP Edge Live, a production system combining Grass Valley hardware, NVIDIA Blackwell GPU acceleration, and AMPP OS in a single platf...
12/06/2026
At one time a trailblazer with the launch of the Longhorn Network, the Universit...
12/06/2026
Ratings Roundup is a rundown of recent rating news and is derived from press rel...
12/06/2026
Chyron has announced PAINT 10.4, an update to its illustrated replay and sports ...
12/06/2026
SVP, Production, Mark Gross: With the new schedule, with not having every Sunday night, it has given us an opportunity to take a step back and reimagine what o...
12/06/2026
For Televisa Technical Engineering Manager Roberto N nez Ibarra and the small team of 12 technicians and two production personnel at the IBC things are already ...
12/06/2026
Simple Steps to Better Acoustics - Taming The Small Room
Most of us mix in spare rooms and small spaces, where the acoustics fight us at every turn. At Gear...
12/06/2026
Latest addition expands vintage-inspired effects palette
Meris' Ottobit pedal range draws its inspiration from vintage gaming consoles, and the latest a...
12/06/2026
Soundbox-based chamber strings series expanded
Sonora Cinematic have just announced the launch of the second instalment in their Soundbox-based chamber stri...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
AJA Announces KONA IP25 Integration with Colorfront Software
Brie Clayton June 12, 2026
0 Comments
Collaboration enables uncompressed SMPTE ST 2110 I/O ...
12/06/2026
URSA Cine 12K LF Used to Create Visuals for STUTS' K-Arena Concert
Brie Clayton June 12, 2026
0 Comments
Organic visuals projected on a giant scre...
12/06/2026
MTI FILM Acquires Mango New Edit, Expanding its Global Post-Production Services ...
12/06/2026
AI Point Tracking Speeds Up Complex VFX Tracks in Mocha Pro
Jessie Electa Petrov June 12, 2026
0 Comments
The 2026.5 release adds automatic point trac...
12/06/2026
Bitmovin, a provider of video streaming solutions, has partnered with Simplestream, a provider of OTT and broadcast solutions, and technology provider Xperi, to...
12/06/2026
Leostream Corporation, creator of the world-leading Leostream Remote Desktop Access Platform, today announced Jigsaw24, a leading B2B IT solutions provider wit...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
How Aussie indie games and screen are levelling up with IP 11 June 2026
Ari Harrison, Pro Jank Footy
Head of Games Joey Egger and Ari Harrison of Umbrella sha...
12/06/2026
AgentPerf from Artificial Analysis, the industry's first agentic AI benchmark, gives developers, enterprises and infrastructure providers a clear way to com...
12/06/2026
Back to All News
Netflix Unveils First-Look Images from Villaflor, Santiago Mitre's New Film
Entertainment
12 June 2026
GlobalArgentina
Link copied to ...
12/06/2026
Back to All News
Cross the Boundaries of the Real World into the Spirit Realm i...
12/06/2026
With John Daro, DI Colourist at Warner Bros. Water Tower Color Tuesday 23 June, 10am-1pm or 3-6pm
Restar Corporation
Tokyo
Register here
John Daro is the ...
Prison journalism: Prisoner's right to voteThe basic right to vote as a prisoner or ex-convict. Revoked or even deprived from in differing prisons in differing states and countries.
