I spent most of the today in Warren touring the Maine State Prison with researchers from Amnesty International, a Maine psychiatrist, and some ACLU of MAINE lawyers. While the purpose of the visit was our continued interest in Maine's use of solitary confinement, I couldn't help but be reminded, due to the timing, of how unique and special Maine is for allowing incarcerated persons and formerly incarcerated persons to vote.
Voting is a fundamental right and a cornerstone of our democracy, yet millions of Americans have had their right to vote revoked for periods ranging from the time spent incarcerated to a lifetime. To understand the range of laws across the country - in 10 states, you can lose your right to vote for life, and in just two (Maine and Vermont), you never lose this fundamental right.
Here is the reality - voting MATTERS. Who is in office effects all of us on some very basic levels, such as what resources will be available in terms of public assistance, law enforcement, education, etc. Those who hold office influence a multitude of decisions - from minor to huge - and across a variety of areas. And they appoint people who make even MORE decisions that affect us.
And those currently incarcerated are equally impacted by these decisions - both when they are in jail or prison, and for around 98% of them - it impacts their lives when they get out.
So I'm here to say GO MAINE!!
Go Maine for recognizing that as a society we WANT those in jails and prisons to care about their civic duty and to engage in their communities when they're able.
We stand alongside just one other state (Vermont) in permitting incarcerated persons to vote, but hope that we can continue to lead in this area, as we do in so many others.
For more information about voting laws across the country - go to this handy ACLU resource.