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(THREAD) If you were an eligible voter incarcerated in jail during this election here are all the steps you would have to take before you could vote:
Acquire accurate information about your eligibility.
Even elections officials and voter registration forms can contain incorrect or incomplete info about voting laws. This is often the biggest barrier to voting.
Even elections officials and voter registration forms can contain incorrect or incomplete info about voting laws. This is often the biggest barrier to voting.
Find a way to register to vote.
People in jails typically lack access to the internet and to paper election forms, so it can be potentially impossible to submit the required registration documents.
People in jails typically lack access to the internet and to paper election forms, so it can be potentially impossible to submit the required registration documents.
Acquire necessary materials for registration.
If you were able to access registration forms, not having adequate identification (& no, jail ID cards do not typically count) or having limited access to personal info can impede you from being able to register.
If you were able to access registration forms, not having adequate identification (& no, jail ID cards do not typically count) or having limited access to personal info can impede you from being able to register.
Send in registration forms ON TIME.
In 30 states, people wanting to vote must register days or weeks in advance of Election Day, and often- jail mail delays can make doing so incredibly difficult.
In 30 states, people wanting to vote must register days or weeks in advance of Election Day, and often- jail mail delays can make doing so incredibly difficult.
Find a way to access a ballot.
In 16 states, voting by absentee ballot is only permitted when a voter claims a recognized justifications, and often, detention in a jail is not a recognized justification.
In 16 states, voting by absentee ballot is only permitted when a voter claims a recognized justifications, and often, detention in a jail is not a recognized justification.
Actually cast the ballot.
ID requirements, having to get your absentee ballot notarized, inadequate election information, and the difficulty of confirming that a ballot has been received & counted can further impede voting.
ID requirements, having to get your absentee ballot notarized, inadequate election information, and the difficulty of confirming that a ballot has been received & counted can further impede voting.
Read more about the myriad barriers that leave thousands of people incarcerated in jail de-facto disenfranchised, despite being entirely eligible to vote, here: https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/jail_voting.html
