According to Locked Out: Felon Disenfranchisement and American Democracy by Christopher Uggen (pr: YOU-gun) and Jeff Manza, Americans are loosening up about felon disenfranchisement. but the status quo is still pretty shocking, or, in other words, utterly predictable.
The stats are in, and they are damning: 5.4 million Americans (1 out of 40 voters, 1 out of 4 black men) lack the right to vote.
Some highlights:
- 2 states put no restrictions on felons' voting rights -- Maine and Vermont
- 3 states take away all felons' voting rights permanently, unless their rights are specifically restored by the government -- Virginia, Kentucky, and Florida.
A few surprises:
- Maryland, what are you doing hanging out with Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee, permanently taking away some felons' voting rights?
- Utah, looking all permissive over there with Oregon, restoring voting rights automatically upon release from prison.
Here's a handy map.
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