Nearly 70,000 people in North Carolina could not vote in 2017 because of a state law that prohibits people from voting while on felony probation or post-release supervision, according to a new report released today from the Southern Coalition for Social Justice (@SCSJ). 1/6
@scsj In NC, @SCSJ conducted a 100 county survey to determine how probation officers inform people about their voter ineligibility. The results suggest that many probationers likely do not know that they are not permitted to vote. 2/6 
@scsj Though it is far from clear that people who are on felony probation know that they are ineligible to vote, people are prosecuted on felony charges in North Carolina for “voting while ineligible.” @huffpost’s @srl covered a few recent cases here. huffpost.com/entry/alamance… 3/6
@scsj @HuffPost @srl Noting that the civic engagement, which includes voting, "is one factor that is linked to recidivism,” @SCSJ calls on the North Carolina legislature to follow the lead of states like Maryland, which, in 2016 changed its law to allow people to vote upon release from prison. 4/6
@scsj @HuffPost @srl For broader context on efforts to ensure formerly incarcerated citizens are provided with the right to vote, and the tools to increase participation at the ballot box, check out @taniel’s roundup for @theappeal’s Political Report. appealpolitics.org/disenfranchise… 6/6
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