North Carolina is seeing the most significant expansion of voting rights since the 1960s with a new policy that restores voting rights to roughly 55,000 North Carolinians on parole or probation for a felony conviction.
North Carolina is seeing the most significant expansion of voting rights since the 1960s with a new policy that restores voting rights to roughly 55,000 North Carolinians on parole or probation for a felony conviction. However, if the ruling is upheld on appeal, lawmakers plan to progress even further by allowing voting rights to be restored immediately after an individual's prison sentence has been completed, a policy that's already practiced by most states.
As we all know, prison serves as punishment for a crime and the sentence is determined based on severity. If the Criminal Justice System did not believe in successful rehabilitation for people convicted of felonies, sentences wouldn't vary based on severity, and they especially wouldn't be reduced based on good behavior. The United States Criminal Justice System was created to protect and serve the public, and imprisonment is implemented not just for the safety of the public, but to rehabilitate those who have made mistakes so that they can reenter society and contribute to their communities. After all, these people pay taxes. Shouldn't they have a say in where their money goes?
The reality for Black people in regards to America's prison system is devastatingly different from the reality faced by whites. Stanton Jones, lawyer and advocate for prisoners' voting rights in North Carolina, brought up the disproportionate effects that restrictive voting policies have on Black Americans. During the trial, Jones reported that although 21% of North Carolina's voting-age population are Black, they make up an alarming 42% of those whose voting rights have been stripped away. A chilling sentence follows:
"which is no surprise because that's exactly what it was designed to do."
America's outdated laws restricting the rights of certain populations were not implemented to promote liberty and justice for all, but liberty and justice for some, a truth that reflects a tragic hypocrisy for a country built on freedom.
If a previous conviction is keeping you from participating in government, finding housing and employment, or pursuing the life you deserve, it's time to take action with the help of professionals at Easy Expunctions. Get in touch with us at (866) 775-9983 or visit our website at easyexpunctions.com for more information about our easy and affordable record-clearing process.