In an unprecedented move, Colorado's Democratic Governor, Jared Polis, has signed a bill into law that establishes a voting program for inmates in county jails.
This groundbreaking initiative aims to extend voting rights to those in local custody.
The new law mandates that each county appoints an employee to facilitate voting access for inmates, including providing at least one day for in-person voting. However, it's important to note that this privilege does not extend to individuals convicted of felonies in Colorado. Only those convicted of misdemeanors or those awaiting trial are eligible to vote.
According to the Colorado secretary of states office, a minimum of 61 voting sites will be established in county facilities across the state for the upcoming November election.
State Senator Julie Gonzales, a Democrat and the bill's sponsor, expressed to NBC News that the initiative aims to address the logistical hurdles that previously barred many inmates from voting. "In Colorado, we really pride ourselves on our gold star election system," Gonzales stated. "Yet we realized that there was a group of individuals who werent able to fully access the ballot.
Currently, only eight jails across the United States allow inmates to vote with ease, as reported by the Prison Policy Institute. This includes two facilities in Denver, where a similar program was initiated in 2020, resulting in over 150 inmates casting their votes.
While activists have long been advocating for the voting rights of released inmates, there has been little push for the voting rights of those still incarcerated. As of 2022, Justice Department data reveals that approximately half a million people are in custody awaiting trial nationwide.
Login