The Freedom To Vote: The Power of Casting a Ballot

American democracy cannot be of the people, for the people, and by the people until every citizen is empowered to make their voice heard. Approximately 3.3 million Americans are still denied their right to vote in the 25 states where those who have completed their sentence for a felony conviction or where those on parole or probation are barred from casting a ballot. In some states, unpaid fines and fees are used to keep people disenfranchised—a policy that many voting and civil rights activists have referred to as “modern day poll taxes” and that one federal judge described as a “pay-to-vote” system. Because of inequalities in America’s judicial system, a disproportionate number of those who remain disenfranchised are Black or Hispanic.

The power of every single vote matters, a reality that feels even more prevalent to Americans who are denied the right to vote. The Freedom to Vote Act, a transformative piece of federal voting rights legislation, would re-enfranchise all returning citizens who have completed a sentence for a felony conviction, regardless of outstanding fines and fees, and ensure that those on parole and probation can cast a ballot. Reentry into society is only truly possible if citizens are able to freely exercise all of their rights—including the right to vote. The right to vote is crucial to ensure that people feel empowered to make decisions about their future and their communities, and it is essential for building economic and social prosperity. Congress must pass the Freedom to Vote Act to strengthen American democracy for generations to come.