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Punishing at the Polls
The Case Against Disenfranchising Citizens With Felony Convictions
Tracing the history of these laws from ancient Europe to their racist application in post Civil War U.S., Ewald concludes that felony disenfranchisement laws are in profound conflict with America's best ideals of fairness and traditions of democracy. | |
 Democracy Denied
The Racial History and Impact of Disenfranchisement Laws in the United States
The brief examines the relationship between criminal justice practices that disproportionately target people of color, and disenfranchisement laws that deprive citizens convicted of felonies of their right to vote. | |
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Felony Disenfranchisement Laws Should be Repealed According to New Report "Punishing at the Polls"
"Democracy Denied" Documents Devastating Impact of Disenfranchisement on Communities of Color in America
(New York, NY) -- Demos has published two new reports which provide compelling research, analysis, and timely information on felony disenfranchisement laws and their impact on American democracy.
In "Punishing at the Polls: The Case against Disenfranchising Citizens with Felony Convictions" political scientist Alec Ewald sheds new light on the fundamentally undemocratic nature of felony disenfranchisement laws. Tracing the history of these laws from ancient Europe to their racist application in the post-Civil War U.S., Ewald systematically critiques the arguments marshaled in favor of felony disenfranchisement. He concludes that felony disenfranchisement laws are in profound conflict with America's best ideals of fairness and traditions of democracy.
"Democracy Denied", a new Demos briefing paper, focuses on the disproportionate impact of disenfranchisement laws on communities of color in the United States today. The brief examines the relationship between criminal justice practices that disproportionately target people of color, and disenfranchisement laws that deprive citizens convicted of felonies of their right to vote.
"The right to vote in a democracy is among the most precious of all individual rights," noted George W. Bush and others in their arguments to the Supreme Court in 2000. Yet, upwards of 800,000 citizens in Florida alone were legally barred from voting because of felony convictions in that same election. These citizens were disproportionately from communities of color and were among some 4.7 million U.S. adults now barred from voting because of felony convictions.
The authors of Punishing at the Polls, Alec Ewald, Demos Democracy Program Director Steven Carbó, and Jazz Hayden, Director of the New York City Unlock the Block Campaign and lead plaintiff in Hayden v. Pataki, are available for comment and interviews.
Publications
Placebo Ballots
Will "Fail-Safe" Provisional Voting Fail?
October 28, 2004
Demos' Ari Weisbard examines the practice of provisional balloting after the implementation of the Help America Vote Act.
Purged!
Will Eligible Voters Be Purged From Election Rolls?
October 27, 2004
Purged! provides an in-depth analysis of the confusing, disorganized and often partisan process used to "purge" voter rolls and deny eligible Americans the right to vote.
Divided Citizens
How Inequality Undermines Trust in America
May 1, 2004
An exploration of the importance of social trust in U.S. society and troubling ways in which rising economic inequality since the 1970s has helped to decrease trust between Americans.
Democracy Denied
The Racial History and Impact of Disenfranchisement Laws in the United States
February 26, 2004
This brief examines the relationship between criminal justice practices that disproportionately target people of color, and disenfranchisement laws that deprive citizens convicted of felonies of their right to vote.
Punishing at the Polls
The Case Against Disenfranchising Citizens With Felony Convictions
November 24, 2003
Political scientist Alec Ewald sheds new light on the fundamentally undemocratic nature of felony disenfranchisement laws. Tracing the history of these laws from ancient Europe to their racist application in the post Civil War U.S., Ewald concludes that felony disenfranchisement laws are in profound conflict with America's best ideals of fairness and traditions of democracy.
Securing the Vote
An Analysis of Election Fraud
April 14, 2003
An in-depth study of election fraud issues and the policy requirements of the Help America Vote Act.
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