Imani Weeks Katarina Backo Isabel Medlock amp Kobe Nabried Our Mission There has been a decrease in voter turnout in Philadelphia There are certain issues that correlate to this decline Our group decided to focus on the disenfranchisement of felons because felons dont realize their abi ID: 683904
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Slide1
Disenfranchisement of Felons
Imani Weeks, Katarina Backo, Isabel Medlock, & Kobe Nabried Slide2
Our Mission
There has been a decrease in voter turnout in Philadelphia. There are certain issues that correlate to this decline. Our group decided to focus on the disenfranchisement of felons because felons don’t realize their ability to vote.Slide3
Our Mission
While completing the Committee Seventy survey, we encountered a person who told us that because he was a felon, he couldn’t vote therefore couldn’t take our survey. If more people knew that they were eligible for voting, then the number of voters showing up on Election Day would definitely increase.Slide4
Current System
People who are not allowed to vote:
Felons who are currently in jail and will not be released before Election Day
-or-
Someone who has broken an election law in the past 4 years Slide5
Change in Ruling
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania made a ruling on December 26, 2000:
It was unconstitutional to have felons wait 5 years after release to register to vote.
If completing an older version of Voter Registration Mail Application (VRMA), the convicted felon can just strike the felony conviction line. Slide6
Not Many People KNow Felons Can Vote
Felons are sometimes ostracized in a community, therefore do not know their rights. Along with the facts that the law was changed recently and people don’t focus in municipal rulings, more people need to know they can fill their responsibility as a citizen.Slide7
Raising Awareness
Since not many people, including felons, to increase voter turnout we can raise awareness of felons’ voting rights. We propose, setting up billboards, ads, and posters in public areas such as train stations and highways that would raise awareness of the fact that felons CAN vote. The following slides are examples of the posters that can be placed for people to learn their rights.Slide8
Slide9Slide10Slide11
Workshops
In addition to raising awareness through posters and ads we would also run workshops that informed felons on key voting information. Workshops will be set up for felons in community centers around Philadelphia as well as prisons themselves for those who get released close to Election Day. Slide12
Workshops
The convicted felons will be taught:
How to register
How to fill a ballot
What ward they belong to
The polling place within their district
We would also teach felons about each office and what it entails. As Election Day approaches we will also provide them resources so they can do their own research on each candidate. We not only want voters but informed voters!Slide13
Program Proposal
This workshop will be able to help raise voter turnout in Philadelphia by raising ex-con awareness of Pennsylvania voting policies. There are former convicts in the city that are under the impression that they cannot vote because they have served a prison sentence. With the help of this workshop ex-cons will have the tools and necessary skills to be active voters. Slide14
Annotated Bibliography
"Voting Restrictions Greatly Affect Ex-felons."
The Philadelphia Tribune
. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2015.
http://www.phillytrib.com/news/voting-restrictions-greatly-affect-ex-felons/article_842242d8-6596-5c0e-8416-5aa8289c64c1.html
"American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania."
Voting with a Criminal Conviction
. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2015.
http://www.aclupa.org/issues/votingissues/votingrightsofexfelons/
This source provided information on who was eligible and ineligible to vote.
"PA.gov."
Home
. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2015.
http://www.pbpp.pa.gov/Understanding%20Parole/VR/Pages/default.aspx#.VkJCCNWrTnA
Information on residency rules for PA residents
"CRIMES CODE OFFENSES."
204 Pa. Code § 303.15. Offense Listing.
N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2015. <
http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/204/chapter303/s303.15.html
>.
Statistical evidence on convicts and felons and the crimes that they committed. Crimes code offenses.Slide15
Annotated Bibliography
"State Felon Voting Laws - Felon Voting - ProCon.org."
ProConorg Headlines
. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2015.
<
http://felonvoting.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000286
>.
We used this source to find what the different voting laws in each state where. We used this information in one of our posters.
"Pennsylvania Felony Charges and Sentencing for Convictions | Criminal Law."
CriminalDefenseLawyer.com
. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2015.
http://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/resources/criminal-defense/state-felony-laws/pennsylvania-felony-class.htm
We used this source to find examples of different types of felonies.
"Voter Registration Requirements."
Student's Guide to Elections
(2008): n. pag.
Felonvoting.procon.org
. VotesPA. Web.
<
http://felonvoting.procon.org/sourcefiles/Pennsylvania_Voting_Rule.pdf
>
We used this source to find rules for felon voting eligibility.