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
11/12/2025
Dalet, a leading provider of cloud-native, end-to-end media workflow solutions, ...
01/12/2025
L3Harris and PentenAmio formalise their teaming agreement at MilCIS 2025, streng...
01/12/2025
Artemis II is NASA's first crewed flight test of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft. The crew, from left: Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Vic...
01/12/2025
IRVINE, Calif. Wooden Camera has introduced its new Accessory Collection for the Canon EOS C50. The new lineup includes a low-profile, gimbal-ready cage, expand...
01/12/2025
WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commission has released a tentative agenda for its Dec. 18 Open Commission Meeting that will include a vote on a report an...
01/12/2025
In most years, a graph of annual local TV ad spending is about as predictable as an electrocardiogram of a reasonably healthy patient in a doctor's office. ...
01/12/2025
Many industries have seen big-ticket hardware turn into software. Switchers, though, demand a combination of real-time performance and sheer bandwidth that has ...
01/12/2025
GENEVA Shanghai will host the next quadrennial Radiocommunication Assembly (RA-27) and World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-27), Oct. 11-Nov. 12, 2027. This...
01/12/2025
NEW YORK Just in time for Giving Tuesday tomorrow (Dec. 2), the Broadcasters Foundation of America is seeking out donations to help television and radio industr...
01/12/2025
STOCKHOLM, Sweden Net Insight CEO Crister Fritzson has informed the company's board that he will retire from the video transport and media cloud technology ...
01/12/2025
01 Dec 2025
Kyivstar and Ukrainian Ministry of Digital Transformation Select Go...
01/12/2025
The prequel to the global hit Sky Original mob crime saga, Gomorrah' is a s...
01/12/2025
Featuring Florence Welch, Red Hot Chilli Peppers' Flea, designer Bella Freud...
01/12/2025
Back to All News
A Down to Earth, All Too Relatable Hero: Cashero' Teaser ...
01/12/2025
In the rush to deliver content to every screen, many broadcasters overlook one of the most crucial steps in the workflow: format and frame rate conversion. Get ...
01/12/2025
Fox Corporation Chief Financial Officer Steve Tomsic to Participate in Upcoming ...
01/12/2025
Arvato Systems' Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) Receives BSI C5 Certification (T...
01/12/2025
Summary This short video gives you an summary of the changes in under two minutes.
--...
01/12/2025
As the festive season approaches, RT Supporting the Arts is proud to showcase a...
01/12/2025
Researchers worldwide rely on open-source technologies as the foundation of their work. To equip the community with the latest advancements in digital and physi...
01/12/2025
Festive specials of Christmas in Kilmainham presented by Marty Whelan, High Road Low Road, Callan Kicks the Year and Keys to My Life
Ring in the New Year with ...
01/12/2025
Architect and television presenter Hugh Wallace, best known to RT audiences as a long-serving judge on Home of the Year, has died at the age of 68.
In a state...
28/11/2025
Nadia Fall attends the 2025 Sundance Film Festival premiere of Brides at the Egyptian Theatre on January 24, 2025, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Donyale West/...
28/11/2025
It's easy to ignore those little red update available badges. But when it ...
28/11/2025
WASHINGTON Federal Communications Commission has released a tentative agenda for the December Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Thursday, December 18, 2025 ...
28/11/2025
The Professional Fighters League is looking to super-serve fans of mixed martial...
28/11/2025
Fubo has released in beta on select Roku devices a new feature that lets users display up to four simultaneous streams at once....
28/11/2025
The WNBA playoffs and Week 4 of the NFL regular season highlight the list of live sports events airing on television this weekend....
28/11/2025
The 32nd class of honorees to the B+C Hall of Fame took to the stage at New York's Ziegfeld Ballroom on September 26 for a gala induction event. Click below...
28/11/2025
We hold in our hands the very last Next Text for Next TV, the weekly back-and-fo...
28/11/2025
DirecTV said it made a deal with EchoStar to buy EchoStar's video businesses, including satellite-TV provider Dish TV and virtual MVPD Sling TV, for $1 plus...
28/11/2025
The Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame, the premier industry event paying tribute to the influencers, innovators and shining lights of broadcast, cable and streami...
28/11/2025
Friday 28 November 2025
Sky Sports x Slawn drop limited-edition football jersey...
28/11/2025
Rohde & Schwarz shows resilience in a challenging environment, revenue exceeds t...
28/11/2025
Unwrapped: The Toy Show Appeal - airing this Sunday on RT One and RT Player- s...
27/11/2025
LONDON Vizrt has added several AI-driven advanced features offering improved speed, intelligence and accuracy in the newest version of its media asset managemen...
27/11/2025
Prime Video has launched AI-powered video season recaps in a beta version for select English-language Prime Original series in the U.S., a move Amazon is callin...
27/11/2025
Back to All News
Netflix's Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders Marks a Grand...
27/11/2025
27 Nov 2025
GSMA brings M360 Eurasia 2026 to Samarkand in partnership with VEON...
27/11/2025
Tahar Rahim and Izuka Hoyle star in the gripping six-part Sky Original from Acad...
27/11/2025
Thursday 27 November 2025
Sky Arts Reveals the Nation's Greatest Basslines - and Queen Reign Supreme
The UK's most iconic basslines have been revealed...
27/11/2025
Back to All News
Stranger Things 5': Prepare for One Last Adventure With O...
27/11/2025
The media industry has a paradox at its core. It's an industry built on light, color and imagination, yet behind the scenes, it's powered by one of the ...
27/11/2025
Rating reflects rating progress across areas including policies, diversity & inclusion, health & safety and Net Zero leadership
Winchester, UK, 27 November 202...
27/11/2025
What are the industry standards for Retail Media? Kathryn explains that certification is based on the IAB Europe Retail Media Measurement Standards and the IAB ...
27/11/2025
World champion boxer and Irish sporting icon Katie Taylor will be in studio this...
27/11/2025
Roblox, one of the world's most popular online gaming platforms for primary ...
27/11/2025
Black Friday is leveling up. Get ready to score one of the biggest deals of the season - 50% off the first three months of a new GeForce NOW Ultimate membership...
26/11/2025
SVG Sit-Down: Prime Video EP Mike Muriano Previews Massive Black Friday Slate Fe...
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.
