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The House Ethics & Elections Committee meeting is starting! Lawmakers will hear from advocates, formerly incarcerated people, and voting rights experts on #VotinginPrison #HB39
They are starting with witness slips. There are over 1,300 proponents (thank u!!!!) and 940 opponents (boooooo) #VotinginPrison #HB39
.@RepFord8 is kicking off the subject matter hearing by reminding committee members that this bill nearly passed in 2019
Now we are hearing from @StevieValles.
“This bill seeks to correct a legacy of racist policies both in the country and in Illinois… over half the people in Illinois prisons are Black, even though Black people only represent 14% of the total population” #VotinginPrison #HB39
“This bill seeks to correct a legacy of racist policies both in the country and in Illinois… over half the people in Illinois prisons are Black, even though Black people only represent 14% of the total population” #VotinginPrison #HB39
Next up, we have Avalon Betts-Gaston from @IL_ARJ.
Avalon is speaking from personal experience as a formerly incarcerated Black woman who was unable to advocate for her children at the ballot box while in prison.
#VotinginPrison #HB39
Avalon is speaking from personal experience as a formerly incarcerated Black woman who was unable to advocate for her children at the ballot box while in prison.
#VotinginPrison #HB39
Three reasons to support voting in Prison according to Avalon from @IL_ARJ
1. We need to expand our democracy for it to best serve people
2. Children deserve advocates at the ballot box regardless of their parent being incarceration
3. Civic ties promote social cohesion
1. We need to expand our democracy for it to best serve people
2. Children deserve advocates at the ballot box regardless of their parent being incarceration
3. Civic ties promote social cohesion
Thirdly, we are hearing from the brilliant Dr. Christina Rivers, a political science and voting rights expert.
“Contrary to prevailing assumptions, incarcerated community members are politically aware and politically engaged to the extent they can be” #VotinginPrison #HB39
“Contrary to prevailing assumptions, incarcerated community members are politically aware and politically engaged to the extent they can be” #VotinginPrison #HB39
Dr. Rivers is going on to explain the national trend to restore voting rights to people with felony convictions… Florida, Washington D.C., Minnesota, and the list goes on
#VotinginPrison #HB39
#VotinginPrison #HB39
Dr. Rivers is closing out by emphasizing the benefits of #VotinginPrison #HB39 for ALL community members
We are now hearing from Cliff from @ChgoCivilRights.
He highlights that both the plain language and textual context of the Illinois constitution allows for the re-enfranchisement of people in prison.
He highlights that both the plain language and textual context of the Illinois constitution allows for the re-enfranchisement of people in prison.
With just a few implementation and clarification questions, that concludes our subject matter hearing for #VotinginPrison #HB39!!
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