We work to restore the voting rights of formerly incarcerated people by changing voting policies, canvassing in our neighborhoods and communities, hosting voter registration drives, and educating the public on the civil rights of FIP.
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In Louisiana, if you are not currently serving time in prison, on probation, or on parole: you can exercise your right to vote no matter what your prior conviction is! This is not widely known, so we make sure to shout it from the mountaintops that YOU CAN VOTE!
In May 2018, our voting rights bill, HB 265, passed the Louisiana Legislature, which means that thousands of formerly incarcerated people are getting their voting rights back on March 1, 2019!
Under this new law, Act 636, anyone who is: 1. is off probation or parole 2. has been on parole for 5 or more years OR 3. is on probation with no new convictions will be newly eligible to vote. In order to register, you may need: -Discharge papers from the DOC -An official DOC form about your probation/parole status -a valid identification card (ID) ...and we're here to help you! Contact us today with any questions or for assistance. Know someone who is newly eligible? Download the Act 636 informational poster and share widely!
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The second half of the battle after winning voting policies is turning out our people at the voting polls. One way VOTE does this is by hitting the streets and knocking on doors. Our staff organizers, members and volunteers go to our neighborhoods to register voters, inform about upcoming elections and the work of VOTE and, most importantly, educate the public on the rights of formerly incarcerated people.
We're gearing up to make sure every one of these people know that they CAN vote in time for the November elections. Got a few hours to spare? Volunteer as a canvasser with us! |
