The PENNfranchise Project

Accepting the torch to keep running!

Civil rights leader says prison visit is part informational, part inspirational to encourage voting The Rev. Jesse Jackson met with incarcerated men at Dauphin County Prison and helped at least one of them to register to vote.

https://www.fox43.com/article/news/politics/lawmakers-expand-voting-access-pa-prisons/521-ee191d92-4e72-4521-bcb9-7cd8072d85aa

Lawmakers pushing to expand voting access in prisons across Pa. Rep. Rick Krajewski (D-Philadelphia) introduced House Bill 1756 in 2023.

We are so proud of the work happening at the state level to ensure incarcerated voters know their rights!

After more than a year of advocacy and organizing, the State Department has released their first ever official guidance on voting in jails. This an incredible step forward for our movement to protect voting rights behind bars.

I look forward to continuing the fight to ensure that robust voting practices are in place at every county jail in the Commonwealth. Grateful for the collaboration of the State Department, All Voting is Local, the Black Caucus, The PENNfranchise Project and more.

For more details, as well as ideas you can bring to your local county election and jail officials, check out the full State Department guidance below.
https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/dos/resources/voting-and-elections/directives-and-guidance/2024-dos-guidance-voting-for-incarcerated-individuals-1.0.pdf

Thank you so much Speaker McClinton for your support on this very important issue!

Check out the interview!

Bringing Democracy Inside Prisons with Leigh Owens of PENNfranchise | Episode 819 Leigh Owens joins The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about his career, overcoming incarceration and founding PENNfranchise where they are working to build power, create voters and leaders in communities disenfranchised by the criminal justice system.

The Centre County Prison Board voted unanimously to adopt a policy written by PENNfranchise that codifies the right to vote in jails and provides procedural safeguards to that right. We will continue to fight until no eligible incarcerated voter is denied the opportunity to vote.

Is your voter registration up to date?

Register here>>>
https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/pages/VoterRegistrationApplication.aspx

https://amsterdamnews.com/news/2022/05/28/freed-slaves-started-first-memorial-day-in-the-us/

Freed slaves started first Memorial Day in the U.S. - New York Amsterdam News Memorial day is a day that is set aside to honor those who fought in for the United States Military.

There is a lot of misinformation out there about felons and voting rights. In Pennsylvania the only time you can't vote while incarcerated for a felony.

Your right to vote is automatically restored upon release.