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Since 1851, Maryland's Constitution permanently disenfranchised anyone convicted of a felony. This permanent ban on voting for one felony legal infraction excluded a large percentage of the state's population for decades, leaving many without a voice in the electoral process.
Jan 01, 1851After years of fighting to restore voting rights to those convicted of a felony, advocates led by the Maryland Voting Rights Restoration Coalition, were able to get legislation passed that restored voting rights to those convicted of felony. However, they had to complete their court-ordered sentence and then wait three years before being eligible to vote.
Apr 01, 2002On this day, Governor Martin O'Malley signed into law the Voter Registration Protection Act of 2007, restoring voting rights to those previously convicted of a felony once they completed their court-ordered sentence. This legislation, which took five years to pass, empowered more than 50,000 citizens who had previously been barred from voting and was the most historic piece of voting legislation in Maryland during the 21st century.
Apr 24, 2007On this day, the democratically-led Maryland legislature voted to overturn the 2015 veto by Governor Larry Hogan that allowed for those convicted of a felony to vote even while still serving their sentence, as long as they were no longer serving their time 'Behind the Walls'. This expansive legislation empowered an additional 40,000+ citizens who were barred from voting while serving their court-ordered sentence through parole and probation.
Feb 09, 2016OFJ Executive Director Nicole Hanson-Mundell pens an opinion piece speaking to the marginalization of Maryland formerly and currently incarcerated citizens as it relates to voting and more...
Read MoreCheck out the latest efforts of Out for Justice as it relates to ensuring that those currently and formerly incarcerated are afforded the same opporutnities as every other voter to both register to vote and request their mail-in ballots, recognized by the Washington Informer's William Ford.
Read MoreOrganizations such as Out for Justice, push the Board of Elections to produce an annual audit of the number of citizens incarcerated but still eligible to vote that they registered to vote or allowed to submit their ballot during an election.
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