NEW YORK — Being convicted of a crime and sentenced to time behind bars means temporarily giving up the right to vote in the majority of states across the country.
However, people like Cindi McEachon say that's just not fair.
She's the executive director of Peace Prints of Western New York, a comprehensive reentry organization.
"You have 2.3 million people incarcerated in the United States and another 4.5 million people that are currently on parole or probation supervision. These folks don't have a voice. They deserve a voice. They're still people," McEachon said.
Those sentiments are shared by State Senator Kevin Parker from Brooklyn.
He's introducing legislation that would allow people to vote while they're incarcerated.
That vote would count for the area in which they lived before their sentence.
A memo from his office stated:
- "The African-American and Latin-x citizens in our communities are the predominant demographic targeted by the archaic law of disenfranchisement, and preventing those with felony convictions from voting is a maneuver to disempower black voters."
- "If an incarcerated individual can be counted as a whole person in the census, then why can’t their vote be counted in an election."
- "All New Yorkers should be able to exercise their foundational American right of voting, and their vote should count in the county where they previously resided."
- "This bill aims to help fight felony disenfranchisement in New York State and facilitate an easier transition back into society."
McEachon says whether the legislation is voted on and passed or not, it's a step in the right direction that granting voting rights to inmates is even up for discussion.
"They are moving forward to connect the dots and improve their lives. If we don't start allowing or listening to what they have to say, we will continue this incredibly expensive and vicious cycle for incarceration," she said.
However, not everyone is on board.
In fact, shortly after the bill was submitted, Assemblyman Steve Hawley, Senator Rob Ortt and Assemblyman Angelo Morinello sent 2 On Your Side statements expressing their opposition.
In an interview, Morinello told us, "I'm not against the rehabilitation of prisoners but while they are incarcerated, they have not paid their debt to society as yet."
He added, "We need to start teaching people there are consequences to actions. Loosing some of the rights as a convicted criminal is one of those consequences."
Morinello believes this is a part of a larger trend in New York that caters to people who've broken the law.
"We have to have more empathy for victims and not for perpetrators and not for convicted criminals," he said.
This legislation is still very new and it's likely a long way away before it would even possibly be taken up for a vote.
If you want to join the conversation, visit wgrz.com/vote.