Blocked From The Ballot: Individuals With Felony Convictions
The Cook County Jail in Chicago is the largest of its kind in the country. Here, inmates participate in a chess tournament. Scott Olson/Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption
The Cook County Jail in Chicago is the largest of its kind in the country. Here, inmates participate in a chess tournament.
Scott Olson/Scott Olson/Getty ImagesSix states head to the polls today to vote in the so-called "Big Tuesday" primaries.
But thousands of citizens convicted of felonies living in those states won't be casting a ballot, because their right to vote has been stripped away.
The laws around voting rights for convicted felons vary state by state. But it's estimated that over six million Americans have been barred from voting because of felony convictions.
Today, we're kicking off a new series called "Blocked From The Ballot," which spotlights a different part of the U.S. population that won't have a say in this year's election.
Myrna Pérez, director of Voting Rights and Elections for NYU's Brennan Center for Justice and Desmond Meade, president of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition joined us for this episode.
Like what you hear? Find more of our programs online.