The right to vote is given to constituents so that they can voice their interests, exercise political power, and hold their elected representatives accountable. However, in the state of Rhode Island, voting is not easily accessible to all eligible voters. Specifically, eligible voters who have been affected by incarceration struggle to access the information, resources, and services they need to exercise their right to vote. 

In 2006, the Rhode Island Restoration of Voting Rights Act restored suffrage to all Rhode Island residents who are not currently incarcerated in a correctional facility upon a felony conviction. People on parole and probation, people being held on bail, people incarcerated for misdemeanor convictions, people on home confinement, people awaiting trial, and people who are incarcerated prior to  conviction all have the right to vote. However, eligible voters impacted by incarceration face barriers to participation in our democracy due to ineffective or nonexistent policies and practices within our criminal legal system.

We, the members of the Formerly Incarcerated Union of Rhode Island, Every Vote Counts at Brown, ACLU RI, and Common Cause RI seek to fulfill the constitutional rights of eligible voters impacted by incarceration. We are calling for the creation and implementation of policies and practices that protect and ensure access to voting rights for people affected by incarceration.

Specifically, we ask that:

• Those who are incarcerated must be provided with accessible election information. This  may require internet access and/or printed materials. Ideally, these materials should be developed in collaboration with community organizations that have experience working with populations that are directly impacted by incarceration.
• Department of Corrections (DOC) officials and employees, including probation and parole offices, must be educated on the voting eligibility of people who are incarcerated or under community supervision. They must also be provided with voting-related information and resources to share with those in their custody or under their supervision.
• The state must collect annual data on the voter eligibility and participation of those who are incarcerated. This will likely require collaboration between the Secretary of State’s Elections Division and the RIDOC. Data collection should include demographic information relevant to the racially and socioeconomically disparate impacts of incarceration.
• The Secretary of State’s Elections Division and the RIDOC must continue to collaborate with one another, and with community organizations as needed, to formalize voting processes for those who are incarcerated. Protocols related to voter registration, ballot requests, ballot pickup and delivery should be established and enacted.

We must make it clear to state officials and the RIDOC that the voices of those impacted by incarceration have been silenced as a result of limited protocols and policies related to voting access. These voices are valuable to our democracy and deserve to be heard. Sign this petition to ensure that the informed participation of voters impacted by incarceration is rigorously supported. 

UPDATE: Inspired by this petition, Senator Kallman introduced a bill to bring awareness to the importance of this issue. Here are links below to both the bill and the hearing on 4/28. 

RI Senate Judiciary Agenda:
https://status.rilegislature.gov/documents/agenda-18011.pdf

Being heard on 4/28 at the RI State House in Room 313 at 4 PM: 
http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText22/SenateText22/S2635.pdf