By Melanie Jones
Howard University News Service
WASHINGTON— Despite being convicted of 34 felonies, former President Donald Trump will retain his eligibility to vote in his home state of Florida. Trump’s ability to vote and run for office in this election raises concerns about restoring voting rights to other incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals.
First-time voter Sun Hall, a 25-year-old Black man from the district who was formerly incarcerated, said he thought felons could not vote and it was interesting that Trump could when so many others could not.
In July 2020, Washington, D.C. passed the Restore the Vote Amendment Act, which allows incarcerated people to vote. This act has created a sizable voting bloc, with over 4,500 eligible incarcerated voters in the district this election.
Maine and Vermont have also ended the widespread practice of stripping the voting rights of people convicted of felonies.
According to a report by the District of Columbia Corrections Information Council and the Board of Elections, 597 incarcerated residents voted in the November 2020 election.
The BOE found that ensuring ballot access for incarcerated voters came with several challenges.
Some incarcerated individuals reported issues with late or undelivered ballots, while others needed assistance completing registration forms. The report also said that communication between facilities and election officials complicated the process and that additional education on voting rights could improve participation rates.
For voters like Hall, voting for the first time feels like a milestone.
“It feels good that I have the opportunity to vote,” he said.
Although he regained his right to vote before his release, he did not vote because he initially believed he could not vote until his record was expunged.
“When you’re incarcerated, you don’t feel as though… voting is really doing anything for you.”
Now, casting his vote for the first time in the 2024 election, Hall hopes his vote will contribute to positive change.
Hall believes in the power of voting but said that it can be challenging for incarcerated individuals to see the impact.
“Everybody wants something to change,” he said. “You know, every vote counts. Yeah, it should matter to them. Same way it matters to me. I do believe it’s important for [incarcerated people] to vote… But I think that voting when you’re locked up, you’re thinking about what it can do for you. So, if nothing’s done for you at that time, then they think it really doesn’t affect them.”
Reflecting on the November 2020 election, Hall said he didn’t feel the impact of the voting rights legislation when he was incarcerated.
“They don’t necessarily bring all your rights to you, you know? You have a very select few people of correctional officers or wardens that care about your rights,” he said.
Hall said he was disappointed in the candidates’ lack of policies surrounding the justice system.
“I don’t think anybody talks about the justice system, and if they did, I didn’t hear it,” he said. “And if they do talk about it, it’s never pointing out what matters… If I had to vote and the voting was based only off of what they are doing for the justice system, I wouldn’t vote.”
He identified several key issues he hoped candidates would address, including police brutality, gentrification, poverty and middle-class support.
To others voting for the first time after being incarcerated, Hall offers words of encouragement.
“For the people that haven’t been in jail, your vote matters. For the people that are incarcerated, your vote matters,” he said. It’s harder to see it like that while you’re incarcerated, but it still matters. Just be blessed to have your rights.”
Melanie Jones is a HU News Service reporter.
