Lost Voices in America

A felony is defined as the most severe type of crime within society and punishment can range from a year or more in prison to a death sentence.1 Felony disenfranchisement is “the removal of the right to vote following a felony conviction.”2 Thus, in states that have felony disenfranchisement laws, when an individual has been convicted of a felony and sent to prison they are not able to vote whilst serving their time. In some states, this may even extend to individuals who have been released from prison but remain on probation or parole. Ironically, despite the historical progress pertaining to suffrage, felons and ex-felons continue to be stripped of their right to vote through felon disenfranchisement laws. Embedded in this discussion is the historical tension that has existed between races that motivated the disenfranchisement of felons and ex-felons.3 This tension helps to articulate the narrative that felon disenfranchisement provisions were a tool to decimate the sociopolitical influence of African Americans. Although felon disenfranchisement laws appear race-neutral for African Americans on the surface, this paper will highlight the true historical intentions of the law, the disparities in punishment and disenfranchisement, and the ramifications of the law today.