From Anthony Papa’s blog for The Drug Policy Alliance:
The ability to vote is one of great importance and should be enjoyed by every citizen. Until you lose your right to vote you will not understand this. I can attest to this since I lost my ability to vote for many years because of a crime I committed. (View video here.
Some states take away your right to vote forever if you are convicted of a felony. In New York State, according to the New York State Division of Parole, your right to vote is restored once you have completed either parole or your maximum sentence. If you are on probation, your right to vote is never taken away. The most alarming aspect is that many individuals in this situation are eligible to vote, but don't know it. When I was released from prison after serving 12 years of a 15-to-life sentence, under the Rockefeller drug laws, I had no clue about my eligibility to cast a vote. When I went to register to vote I was shocked when they informed me that I had to wait until I was released from parole in order to do so. I felt the pain of felony disenfranchisement since it seemed I was being further punished for my crime. Because of this, I want to inform all ex-offenders of their voting rights, and how important it is for them to vote.
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