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
04/08/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
28/04/2024
Mediahaus delivers the first SRT live-streaming sports production over 5G with U...
19/04/2024
Thank You for visiting us at NAB 2024!
Thank you for joining us at the ToolsOnAir booth during NAB Show 2024!
We were delighted to showcase our latest inno...
19/04/2024
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 18: (L-R) John Early and Theda Hammel attend the 2024 Sundance Film Festival Stress Positions premiere at Library Center Theatre on ...
19/04/2024
By Lucy Spicer
One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival...
19/04/2024
Pictured: Midnight Family
By Stephanie Ornelas
A great way to get to know a city as culturally unique and rich as Mexico City is to listen to the stories tol...
19/04/2024
St. Louis, MO - April 18, 2024 - Studio Network Solutions (SNS) announced today that MOD won three prestigious industry awards at NAB Show 2024 held this week i...
19/04/2024
Spotify's mission is to unlock the potential of human creativity by giving a million artists the opportunity to live off their art and billions of fans the ...
19/04/2024
It's a beautiful day to be a Swiftie. Today, Taylor Swift dropped her 11th s...
19/04/2024
MELBOURNE, Fla., April 19, 2024 - The Board of Directors of L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.16 per common share, payab...
19/04/2024
PARIS Intel has announced that its plans for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 will include using artificial intelligence technology powered by Intel ...
19/04/2024
LAS VEGAS Technologists working on all aspects of the 8K media production chain offered an optimistic update at the 2024 NAB Show on the state of 8K in video pr...
19/04/2024
OpenDrives New Software-Defined Platform Atlas Wins 2024 NAB Show Product of the...
19/04/2024
Grass Valley Showcases Next-Generation T3 Series 4K/HD Digital Recording and Pla...
19/04/2024
NiTRo's M-CUBE Studio Levels Up Esports Productions with AJA Gear
Brie Clayton April 19, 2024
0 Comments
Esports' rapid rise to popularity can...
19/04/2024
Blackmagic Design Announces DaVinci Resolve 19
Brie Clayton April 19, 2024
0 Comments
Major update adds new DaVinci Neural Engine AI tools, new color ...
19/04/2024
Sony Pictures Entertainment is reportedly in talks with Apollo Global Management to make a bid to acquire Paramount which itself is currently discussing a merge...
19/04/2024
Simon Wilkinson, head of VFX at 1185 films, talks about the technology behind the newly-released horror
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: April 19, 2024
Simo...
19/04/2024
The global electronics company is said to be considering joining forces with investment firm Apollo Management to bid for Paramount Global
By Jenny Priestley
...
19/04/2024
The report broke the economic footprint of EBU member sports broadcasting into three main areas
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: April 19, 2024
The report b...
19/04/2024
CBS Stations has launched CBS News California Investigates , with Julie Watts named regional CBS California correspondent. She will uncover and raise awarenes...
19/04/2024
MediaCo Holding, which owns radio stations WQHT (Hot 97) and WBLS in New York, said it acquired Estrella Media's Spanish-language video, audio and digital c...
19/04/2024
Netflix has ordered season five of fantasy drama The Witcher, which will be the final season. Production has recently begun on season four, and the two remainin...
19/04/2024
DirecTV Stream said it added eight more The CW affiliates to its lineup on Thursday....
19/04/2024
CBS has renewed Elsbeth for the 2024-2025 season. The drama, with Carrie Preston in the lead role, debuted February 29....
19/04/2024
With the Bears picking first, NBCUniversal Local's properties in Chicago plan extensive coverage of the NFL draft next week....
19/04/2024
PHILADELPHIA As government subsidies for broadband services come to an end, Comcast has launched NOW, a new product portfolio of lower-cost Internet, mobile and...
19/04/2024
DirecTV Stream has added more local CW stations for its streaming customers in Boston, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Hartford-New Haven Conn., Phoenix, San ...
19/04/2024
NEW YORK & LOS ANGELES MediaCo Holding Inc. has announced that it has acquired all of Estrella Media's network, content, digital, and commercial operations....
19/04/2024
SAN JOSE, Calif. Adobe has announced that the all-new Adobe Express mobile app is available to all users, bringing features powered by Adobe Firefly generative ...
19/04/2024
LOS GATOS, Calif. Netflix reported another blockbuster quarter by adding 9.33 million new subscribers in Q1, 2024 as global paid memberships hit 269.6 million, ...
19/04/2024
The Current State of the Industry and the Future Impact of AI
Hillary Lewis April 18, 2024
0 Comments
The Entertainment Industry: How did we get here ...
19/04/2024
After Effects Tutorial Text Blur Reveal
Andy Ford April 18, 2024
0 Comments
Here's a way to do a quick blur reveal for your text layer. Start by...
19/04/2024
Hollyland Mars M1 Enhanced Wireless Transmitter / Receiver
Colin Smith April 18, 2024
0 Comments
This tutorial shows the new wireless transmitter rece...
19/04/2024
Resolve Fusion: Writing Expressions with Lua
Simon Ubsdell April 18, 2024
0 Comments
The answer to the very frequently-asked question: what is the pro...
19/04/2024
B+C and Next TV have announced the winners of Best of Show Awards for the 2024 NAB Show. The awards were judged by a panel of industry experts at the convention...
19/04/2024
Cate Blanchett narrates the Netflix series Our Living World, which premieres April 17. The four-part series looks at the extraordinary creatures around the glob...
19/04/2024
Apple TV Plus has a spinoff of For All Mankind in the works. It is called Star City and details the cosmonauts, engineers and intelligence officers working behi...
19/04/2024
Jacquie Walker, longtime anchor at WIVB Buffalo, will step down from the anchor desk. She has spent over 40 years at WIVB and her last day as an anchor is May 2...
19/04/2024
Bob Hearts Abishola will premiere in broadcast syndication this fall on such station groups as Nexstar Media Group, Sinclair, Hearst Television, Tegna, E.W. Scr...
19/04/2024
Live With Kelly and Mark remains TV's top entertainment talk show as Kelly Ripa and her co-host and husband Mark Consuelo celebrate their one-year anniversa...
19/04/2024
Sean McLaughlin has been named VP of news for Graham Media Group. He had been senior VP of local news at E.W. Scripps. He will will be responsible for developi...
19/04/2024
Netflix has shared the first trailer from One Hundred Years of Solitude, a series based on the esteemed novel by Gabriel Garc a M rquez. The streamer is on boar...
19/04/2024
NAB 2024 in Review: West Hall - SportsTech Buzz From AWS, Appear, Ateme, The Swi...
19/04/2024
NAB 2024 Draws 61,000+ Attendees With More Than Half Attending the Show for the ...
19/04/2024
Rohde & Schwarz and VIAVI support European OTIC in Berlin for O-RAN conformance ...
19/04/2024
Wuppertal April 19, 2024
Riedel launches Bolero Connect for seamless integration with PunQtum A pioneer in the field of digital intercom, Riedel has recently ...
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.
