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ACLU of Northern California Launches Every Vote Counts" Campaign (10/11/2006)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: media@aclu.org
SAN FRANCISCO --
The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, working closely with
probation offices, public libraries and community-based organizations throughout
northern and central California, announced today that it will inform thousands
of individuals with felony convictions that they have the right to vote if they
are off parole, on probation or have completed probation. Nearly 350,000
individuals are on probation in California.
"Voting is a precious
right in a democracy. Yet, there is so much confusion and misinformation
about the voting rights of individuals who have a criminal conviction," said
ACLU of Northern California Associate Director Maya Harris. "We launched
this campaign to ensure that all eligible voters can participate in the
political process and that individuals are not disenfranchised due to a lack of
information."
"Every Vote Counts" is a dynamic public education
campaign to inform individuals with felony convictions about their right to
vote. Sixteen bus shelters and billboard advertisements are featured in
San Francisco's Mission District and Bay View neighborhood, and five bus
shelters were placed in East Oakland along East 14th Street, also known as
International Boulevard. In addition, radio public service announcements
are being sent to outlets throughout the Bay Area, Sacramento and Fresno.
Posters and palm cards will be extensively distributed and a voting rights
hotline ((415) 293-6325) and Web page have been established. All materials
are being produced in both English and Spanish.
More than 75
percent of northern and central California probation offices have already signed
up to receive probationer voting materials from the ACLU of Northern California,
including hundreds of posters and tens of thousands of palm cards in English and
Spanish. Many offices have also requested sample employee e-mail notices
and manual inserts to educate staff about the voting rights of
probationers.
"I've worked as a chief probation officer for
over 20 years and I believe that voting is an important part of re-integrating
probationers back into community and civic life," said Jim Moffett, Chief
Probation Officer for Inyo County. "Voting is a key element of citizenship, and
assisting our clients towards improved citizenship is critical to our
mission. That is why I support this campaign and plan on using the know
your rights materials."
The ACLU of Northern California is also
working with All of Us or None, an organizing initiative started by people who
were formerly incarcerated, and the League of Women Voters to bring this
campaign to the broader community.
Dorsey Nunn, Director of All of
Us or None, a project of Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, said that
members of his group felt this issue was so important that several of them
volunteered to be featured in the advertisements. "They wanted to not only
get the word out that people with felony convictions have the right to vote, but
that our votes and voices count," said Nunn.
Jody Sanford,
President of League of Women Voters of San Francisco added: "This campaign,
Every Vote Counts, is so important because it helps ensure that individuals who
have had contact with the criminal justice system are informed of their right to
vote and therefore have the ability to participate fully in our democracy."
This week, thousands of posters and palm cards will also be sent
to more than 500 community-based organizations and public libraries throughout
northern and central California.
More information is available at:
www.aclunc.org/vote
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