When I was little, my grandmother spent years serving in the County jail as a nurse.  When I asked her why she would give her time to serve those in jail, she told me, "If we do not care for them, who will?"

This haunted me for years.  In 2022, the Kentucky Judiciary Committee reported that jail inmates were spending months at a time in solitary confinement, some because their warden forgot to release them.  I see legislation directed 'at' the homeless, incarcerated, and the disenfranchised.  But those most affected are not represented at the ballot box.

We consider voting a fundamental right of every citizen in a democratic society, yet, in Kentucky, we still deny this basic right to one segment of the population - our jailed inhabitants. Kentucky has the third highest incarceration rate in the United States, with its imprisoned population significantly larger than the national average (Source: The Sentencing Project). Excluding such a large population from voting not only undermines our principles of democracy but also hinders rehabilitation efforts.

When I asked regular folks in the street, "Does a death row inmate deserve the right to vote?"  Most people said they thought jail inmates already have the right to vote.  After they understood the truth, more than 60% said yes, jail inmates deserve the right to vote.

By expanding suffrage to incarcerated adult citizens, we are not only upholding their constitutional rights but also ensuring their inclusion and participation in our society that will aid in their reintegration efforts once their term ends.

It's time the Bluegrass state joins Maine and Vermont, the only states that currently allow their prison population to vote (Source: National Conference of State Legislatures). It's time we ensure that the road to redemption does not hinge on the disenfranchisement of an individual. We hereby call on Kentucky legislators to enact legislation guaranteeing the right to vote for all adult citizens, including those currently serving jail sentences.

Support this cause, sign this petition, and let's create a fair, inclusive, and truly democratic Kentucky.

When signing, use your real name, address, and zip code.  Our state legislators will listen those that live in their district, and they do verify signatures.