American Civil Liberties Union

The ACLU's Voting Rights Project has worked to protect the gains in political participation won by racial and language minorities since the 1965 passage of the Voting Rights Act.


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NEWS: Rhode Islanders Endorse Post-Prison Voting Rights
On Tuesday, November 7, Rhode Island voters approved Question 2 on the state ballot, a measure that removed the ban on voting by people with felony convictions on parole and probation. The referendum had been placed on the ballot by the state legislature, and received broad support in the state. Rhode Island now joins Massachusetts and New Hampshire in automatically restoring voting rights upon release from prison. For more information, see http://www.brennancenter.org/dynamic/subpages/download_file_38486.pdf.

Voting Rights : Ex-Offenders : Press Releases

Rutgers Law School and ACLU Challenge Denial of Voting Rights in Groundbreaking Lawsuit (01/06/2004)
NEWARK -- The American Civil Liberties Union and the Constitutional Litigation Clinic at Rutgers Law School today filed a groundbreaking lawsuit challenging the denial of voting rights to persons on probation or parole in New Jersey.

Expected Judgment in Florida Voting Rights Lawsuit Will Restore Civil and Voting Rights to Thousands of Ex-Felons (07/24/2003)
MIAMI - Saying that as many as 30,000 ex-felons are likely to regain their voting and civil rights within the next year, the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida today released a proposed final judgment in a lawsuit against the Florida Department of Corrections that mandates assistance to ex-felons who did not receive help in the application process from the state, as required by law.

ACLU of WA Supports New Legislation to Restore Voting Rights to Ex-Felons (02/24/2003)
OLYMPIA, WA -- Saying that tens of thousands of people in the state are denied the right to vote solely because of outstanding financial obligations, the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington today applauded the introduction of legislation that would enable ex-felons to regain the right to vote once they have completed their punishment, even though they may still be paying off monetary debts.

Black State Lawmakers and FL ACLU Challenge State's Failure to Help Ex-Felons Regain Voting Rights (03/14/2001)
MIAMI - The ACLU of Florida's Equal Voting Rights Project today filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of black lawmakers, several ex-offenders and a number of community groups, challenging the state's failure to assist ex-felons in applying for the restoration of their civil rights, including the right to vote. 

In Joint Effort, ACLU and Community Groups Help Ex-Offenders Restore Their Voting Rights (01/24/2001)
MIAMI, FL-- In an effort to help ex-offenders navigate through the lengthy and complicated application process of restoring their voting rights, a coalition of community groups is sponsoring a town hall meeting here this Saturday to educate former offenders on how to regain their right to vote.

Measure to Deny Voting Rights for Prisoners Is a Step Back for Massachusetts, ACLU Warns (10/02/2000)
BOSTON, MA--The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts spoke out today against Measure Number Two, a ballot initiative that would amend the Massachusetts Constitution to prohibit incarcerated felons from voting in elections for numerous state and federal offices.

ACLU Urges PA Legislature to Repeal Law Barring Ex-offenders from the Voting Booth (02/29/2000)
PHILADELPHIA, PA -- At a public hearing scheduled for this Thursday, March 2, the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania said it will urge the state legislature to repeal a law that bars ex-offenders from registering to vote for five years.

ACLU Urges Congress to Restore Voting Fairness (10/21/1999)
WASHINGTON -- Nearly 100 years ago, states across the South adopted a series of laws aimed at keeping African Americans away from the ballot box. Since then, legislators and the courts have jettisoned most of those biased laws. One glaring exception remains: criminal disenfranchisement laws.

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