In a recent press conference, Ayanna Pressley, a Democratic Representative from Massachusetts and a member of the progressive 'Squad', advocated for the voting rights of incarcerated individuals in federal elections.
She also reiterated her support for lowering the voting age to 16.
Pressley, alongside Democratic Senator Peter Welch from Vermont, introduced a novel piece of legislation aimed at reinstating the voting rights of felons.
"We're here today to introduce the Inclusive Democracy Act a historic, brand new, first-of-its-kind bill that will end the stain of felony disenfranchisement in America and guarantee the right to vote for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated citizens," Pressley declared.
She further emphasized the progressive nature of the bill, stating, "Our bill is a reflection of bold, progressive, democratic values.
Because of Republicans and the Supreme Court stopping at nothing to undermine voting rights and to exclude Black and brown folks from participating in our democracy, we must be just as relentless at protecting and expanding access to the ballot box, including for incarcerated citizens."
According to a study conducted by the Sentencing Project, a nonpartisan research group, approximately 4.6 million individuals were disenfranchised due to felony convictions in late 2022.
The study also highlighted that Black and Hispanic citizens are disproportionately affected by felony disenfranchisement.
Pressley then shifted her focus to the enduring legacy of "Jim Crow" and reiterated her support for lowering the voting age to 16.
"When the former occupant of the White House can lead a violent insurrection and still run for president while nearly five million citizens can have a criminal record and not even cast a ballot, Jim Crow is not behind us," she stated.
She further emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "Our democracy is on the line, and the stakes could not be higher.
As a Boston city councilor prior to my time here in Congress, I was proud to advocate for expanded access to the ballot box.
Requiring ballots be made available in multiple languages, expanding early voting in local elections. And in Congress, I led efforts and legislation to lower the federal voting age to 16 and urged the DOJ to aggressively protect voting rights and to fight against voter suppression."
The proposed legislation also mandates the education of incarcerated individuals about their voting rights and provides systems and resources for voter registration, as reported by The Associated Press. The bill also stipulates provisions for mail-in voting for incarcerated individuals.
Currently, states and territories determine a citizen's voting eligibility for all levels of government. The proposed legislation does not alter this, leaving states' abilities to expand or restrict access for state or local elections unchanged.
Despite its progressive intentions, the bill faces significant challenges in the Republican-controlled House.
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