Approximately 4 Million Citizens are Denied Voting Rights in Federal Elections due to Criminal Convictions

Bill Text (PDF) | One-Pager (PDF)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) reintroduced the Inclusive Democracy Act, legislation that would end felony disenfranchisement in federal elections and guarantee the right to vote for citizens with criminal records. The lawmakers’ bill comes as an estimated 4 million citizens – disproportionately Black and brown citizens – are denied voting rights because of a criminal conviction.

“All Americans should be included in our democracy—but some states deny individuals with a criminal record their sacred right to vote,” said Rep. Pressley. “The Inclusive Democracy Act would ensure the voices of millions of disenfranchised voters—disproportionately Black and brown folks—are heard. While Trump, who also has a criminal record, works to suppress voting rights in this new iteration of Jim Crow, our bill would expand access to the ballot box for all citizens. As someone whose family has been impacted by the mass incarceration crisis, I’m proud to lead this legislation with Senator Welch to uplift every voice and honor every vote.”

“Millions of Americans are denied their right to engage in our democratic process. The Inclusive Democracy Act would be a step forward in restoring the voices of millions of disenfranchised voters,” said Senator Welch. “I’ll continue working to strengthen the Voting Rights Act to ensure everyone can equitably exercise their voting rights.” 

The practice of felony disenfranchisement is biased, counterproductive, and deters eligible voters from civic engagement. By entangling the criminal legal system in our elections, people who are disproportionately affected, especially Black citizens, are unfairly disenfranchised and excluded from representation. Additionally, there are inconsistent systems across 48 states that treat different crimes as felonies and set different standards for disenfranchisement.

Specifically, the Inclusive Democracy Act would:

• Guarantee the right to vote in Federal elections for citizens who have criminal convictions;
• Require State and Federal entities to notify individuals who are convicted, incarcerated, on probation, or on parole of their right to vote in Federal elections;
• Outline the process for citizens in carceral settings to register to vote by mail, if registration is required by their State;
• Outline the process for citizens in carceral settings to vote by mail, including protecting and prioritizing election mail, curing ballots with mistakes, and casting a provision ballot;
• Ensure citizens in carceral settings have access to information about elections through mechanisms available to them such as the internet, campaigns, and third-party groups;
• Provide guidance to State officials to not prosecute citizens in carceral settings who complete an election ballot that includes an election they are not eligible to vote in; and
• Provide a private right of action to enforce this legislation.

The bill is cosponsored by Emanuel Cleaver, Hank Johnson, Summer Lee, Kweisi Mfume, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Ilhan Omar, Delia Ramirez, Terri Sewell, Lateefah Simon, Paul Tonko, and Shri Thanedar.

This bill is endorsed by The Sentencing Project; Campaign Legal Center; Chicago Votes; Civil Survival; Community Spring; Dream.Org; Empowering Descendant Communities to Unlock Democracy; Equity and Transformation; EXPO of Wisconsin; FirstFollowers; Gift of Voice; Healing Our Land Inc; Illinois Alliance for Reentry and Justice; Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments; Just Future Project; Live Free Illinois; More Than Our Crimes; National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys; National Coalition for Prisoner Voting Rights; NCJW Chicago North Shore; Raise The Floor Alliance; SACRED Acts (South Asian American Coalition to Renew Democracy Acts); Unlock Civics Coalition; Unlock Civics NM; Urban Community Unity Solutions LLC; Vermont Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants.

“At a time when voting rights are under attack, Congress should be expanding—not restricting—access to the ballot. The Inclusive Democracy Act would ensure that millions of Americans impacted by the criminal legal system have a voice in our democracy,” said Nicole D. Porter, Senior Director of Advocacy at The Sentencing Project. “Nationwide one in 22 Black adults is disenfranchised due to a felony conviction—more than three times the rate of other Americans. Restoring voting rights is a matter of racial justice and democratic integrity, ensuring that every citizen has a voice in the decisions that shape their communities and their future.”

“Voting is a human right. But for too long, we have allowed the criminal justice system to strip away this right from millions and disproportionately Black Americans,” said Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of The National Urban League. “The Inclusive Democracy Act takes the foundational step to guarantee federal voting rights for all people, regardless of criminal record. At a time when voting rights–especially for Black Americans–are being threatened, this bill says enough is enough.” 

“As a person who is currently incarcerated, serving 35.8 years, I can not emphasize enough how having the right to vote would speak directly to recognizing our humanity, the need to contribute to our communities, and would restore hope. We are still citizens who care deeply about the issues and the times we are in. Now is the time when every vote must count, and all citizens, regardless of incarceration, should be afforded this fundamental right,” said Charles Longshore, Project Director at WA State Coalition on Second Look.

“Democracy is strongest when it reaches the people our systems have worked hardest to silence. Restoring voting rights in New Mexico taught me that changing the law is only the beginning; true democracy requires implementation, belonging, and the courage to ensure every voice is heard. The Inclusive Democracy Act is the next step toward making voting a right that no prison wall or criminal conviction can erase” said Justin Allen, New Mexico Campaign Coordinator for Dream.org & Director of Unlock Civics NM.

“People often measure us by our worst moment, but communities are transformed by our greatest contributions,” said Justin Rodriguez, Coordinator at Empowering Descendant Communities to Unlock Democracy. “For years, I was affected by policies while excluded from the process, yet since returning home I’ve dedicated my life to service, leadership, and building in my community. This year, I cast my first vote as someone who has organized, served, and led, and I can’t help but wonder how much more profound this moment would be if I had never known marginalization and if I had understood what enfranchisement actually looked like all those years ago. Having a voice in civic life acknowledges not just our mistakes, but all that we still very much can bring and offer to our current democratic state.”

“Justice-impacted people should not simply be the subjects of public policy—they should be partners in creating it. More Than Our Crimes exists to transform lived experience into civic leadership and community power,” said Robert Barton, Executive Director at More Than Our Crimes.

“Kentucky has one of the most restrictive voting policies in the country, while also having one of the highest rates of felony convictions. A felony conviction does not erase a person’s citizenship, so it should not permanently deny them one of the most fundamental responsibilities and protections of citizenship, the right to vote,” said Kim George, Community Organizer at Advocacy Based on Lived Experience.

“There’s no democratic or principled reason to bar citizens from voting nor should the right depend on which state someone happens to live in,” said Stephanie Puello, Assistant Professor at University of Miami. “In places like Maine, Vermont, and DC, citizens never lose their voting rights, even while incarcerated. Yet in states like Florida, citizens must complete their full sentence and repay fines and fees to regain their voting rights, and can even be arrested if they register to vote after misunderstanding their eligibility. This bill brings coherence to an arbitrary system that has created a patchwork of second-class citizenship. And evidence shows that formerly incarcerated citizens who vote often recidivate at lower rates, making it a mutual investment and a means of strengthening our communities. If we are committed to meeting the demands of democracy, we must promote civic participation at every level, and the Inclusive Democracy Act represents a meaningful step toward that ideal.”

“At Out for Justice, we know that directly impacted people are not only deserving of dignity—they are leaders, advocates, and changemakers whose lived experiences strengthen our democracy,” said Trina Selden, Executive Director at Out for Justice. “The Inclusive Democracy Act recognizes what we’ve always known: citizenship should not be conditional, and our democracy is strongest when everyone has the opportunity to participate. Restoring the right to vote is about more than casting a ballot—it’s about affirming our humanity, our belonging, and our collective power.”

“At EXPO, we believe redemption and democracy go hand in hand. Every citizen deserves a voice, because stronger communities are built through inclusion—not exclusion,” said Marianne Olson, Co-Executive Director at EXPO of Wisconsin.

“At The Change Up Midnight Coalition, we believe that incarceration or a criminal record should not exclude anyone from participating in the democratic process,” said Marcus Kelley, Founder of The Change Up Midnight Coalition.

“Voting has always been the cornerstone of democracy. Everything that is significant to an individual’s life can be tied to their ability to participate in the democratic process.” said Sheba Williams, Executive Director of Nolef Turns Inc. “There should be consistency across the process for all Americans, regardless of contact with the criminal legal system. Disenfranchisement has been intentional and inequitable for far too long. Voting is a human right that is enshrined in our U.S. Constitution yet it has been used as a tool to control who has power in our country for centuries. It is time every American citizen has their inalienable right to vote honored and accessible, even if they are imperfect people.”

“The Inclusive Democracy Act is a transformative and vital proposal,” said Reggie Thedford, Senior Legal Counsel for Restore Your Vote at the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center. “While we have seen some progress in rights restoration, most states still have work to do to eliminate laws that exclude individuals with felony convictions from voting. Campaign Legal Center applauds Congresswoman Pressley for leading the charge on this bill to address that need and promote the freedom to vote for all Americans. We also thank the advocates and organizers, especially those who themselves have had contact with the criminal legal system, who are tirelessly working to eliminate criminal disenfranchisement. Congress must pass this important legislation to move us to a more fair, representative and inclusive democracy.”

Text of the bill can be accessed here. A one-pager on the bill can be accessed here.

The Inclusive Democracy Act is informed by Rep. Pressley’s People’s Justice Guarantee, her comprehensive, decarceration-focused resolution that outlines a framework for a fair, equitable and just legal system.

Rep. Pressley has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to protecting and expanding the sacred right to vote and advance policies that center the dignity and humanity of all people, including those who are currently and formerly incarcerated.

• In May 2026, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Rashida Tlaib reintroduced the Housing FIRST Act, bold legislation to help people who are formerly incarcerated and those with criminal histories access safe and stable housing. It was originally introduced in 2023.
• In December 2025, Rep. Pressley unveiled a new, first-of-its-kind report revealing how Donald Trump’s use of clemency and pardons has neglected many of the most marginalized and impacted communities.
• In April 2024, following a visit to Massachusetts Correctional Institution-Norfolk, Rep. Pressley and Sen. Markey introduced the Declaration of Environmental Rights for Incarcerated People to affirm the human right of nearly two million people currently incarcerated in the United States to a healthy and safe environment and to advocate for protecting and improving their environmental health.
• In February 2022, Rep. Pressley, along with Whip Jim Clyburn and Congressman Mondaire Jones called on the Department of Justice to aggressively protect voting rights and fight against disenfranchisement, gerrymandering, voter purges, and other forms of voter suppression, vote dilution, and election subversion.
• Rep. Pressley has repeatedly urged the U.S. Senate to abolish the filibuster and pass the Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
• In December 2021, Rep. Pressley unveiled the FIX Clemency Act, historic legislation to transform our nation’s broken clemency system and address the growing mass incarceration crisis. 
• In March 2021, Rep. Pressley led her colleagues in re-introducing an amendment to lower the federal election voting age from 18-years-old to 16-years-old.
• In March 2020, Rep. Pressley first introduced the Justice for Incarcerated Moms Act, legislation to improve maternal health care and support for pregnant individuals who are incarcerated, as part of the Momnibus legislative package.

• Rep. Pressley has called on the Massachusetts State Legislature to pass meaningful voting rights legislation that would boost voter turnout and expand access to the ballot box.
• As a Boston City Councilor, Rep. Pressley advocated for expanded access to the ballot box, supporting legislation requiring ballots be available in multiple languages, and filing a home rule petition to allow for early voting in Boston’s preliminary and general elections.

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