Thread by @Taniel

Washington State just restored voting rights to tens of thousands of formerly incarcerated people last night.

behind this big reform: a lawmaker who is formerly incarcerated herself, & fought for this to pass.

I talked to her about why it's so important: theappeal.org/politicalrepor…

I may still do a thread unpacking all @TarraSimmons5 had to say. But mostly I won't do it justice, so I'd urge you to read it yourself.

Of having lost the franchise: “It made me feel like I wasn’t a part of my community... I feel that way still when I can’t rent an apartment or I can’t go on a field trip with my kids, those things that other people take for granted but that convicted people don’t get to enjoy.”

I'm especially happy to get to publish this Q&A in a week where some on the right are going all out arguing it's fine to have fewer voters & to toss out democracy.

This conversation captures the stakes of universal suffrage.

And that best response is getting this stuff done.