A big share of the debate on voting rights was long focused on getting people’s rights restored once they finish whole sentence. But many activists were pushing loudly to get rid of disenfranchisement altogether. And in just a few years, they’ve changed the landscape so much.
Still only DC has outright abolished it (joining ME & VT).
But push helped move default Dem position further to universal suffrage — at least to idea anyone not incarcerated should vote. States getting that done since 2019 unthinkable 26 months ago — CA, NJ, CO, harsh NV...
But push helped move default Dem position further to universal suffrage — at least to idea anyone not incarcerated should vote. States getting that done since 2019 unthinkable 26 months ago — CA, NJ, CO, harsh NV...
And today, the most shocking shoe dropped Virginia. The Gov said he’d enfranchise anyone not in prison via EOs.
When the Gov in 2017 did a weaker EO, *Dem* prosecutors fought him.
But then, they lost primaries. Activists demanded full abolition. Today we got a far stronger EO.
When the Gov in 2017 did a weaker EO, *Dem* prosecutors fought him.
But then, they lost primaries. Activists demanded full abolition. Today we got a far stronger EO.
The bottom line here is that the scale of this is really massive.
Hundreds of thousands of people have gained the right to vote in just the past few years due to rights restoration work and activism.
This is a big expansion of the electorate — whatever else is happening.
Hundreds of thousands of people have gained the right to vote in just the past few years due to rights restoration work and activism.
This is a big expansion of the electorate — whatever else is happening.
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