Campaign
Justice & Democracy
The mass criminalization and incarceration of people of color dis-empowers millions of people, undermining the promise of a democracy that works for everyone. Common Cause is fighting back.
The United States’ system of mass incarceration—which disproportionately targets Black and brown people—threatens the core values of our democracy. Common Cause joined the fight to end this harmful system because of our longstanding commitments to holding power accountable, defending and strengthening voting and civil rights, and ensuring that our voices (not those of monied interests) matter most in our country.
Through our Justice & Democracy Initiative, we work on issues like prison gerrymandering, or the counting of incarcerated people as residents of the prison rather than their home districts, as well as felony disenfranchisement and the political spending of incarceration-adjacent entities.
What We’re Doing
Take Action
Petition
Tell Congress: End Shameful Felony Disenfranchisement
Every American citizen deserves to be heard in our democracy. But right now, Jim Crow-era felony disenfranchisement laws deny this fundamental right to over 4.6 million Americans.
Congress must take action to fix this by passing the Inclusive Democracy Act, which would guarantee voting rights to ALL American citizens.
Your financial support helps us make an impact by holding power accountable and strengthening democracy.
Updates
Blog Post
New Report: The Atlanta Way: Cop City and Pay-to-Play
Blog Post
Conversations with My Daughter: Racial Justice and Democracy this Juneteenth
Blog Post
Black Americans have always been resistant — now it’s time for our elected officials to step up
"Since the country’s inception, Black people have been at the forefront of those consistently pushing the U.S. to live up to its ideals of being a free, fair, and just country. Once again, we’re calling on America to start taking big steps to continue striving for those ideals — to be the country we never have been but must be."
Related Resources
Report
The Paid Jailer
Report
Zero Disenfranchisement: The Movement to Restore Voting Rights
Americans deserve a democracy that fosters their ability to vote and holds their elected leaders accountable, regardless of whether they have a felony The practice of disenfranchising people because of a felony conviction should no longer be practiced in the U.S.
Letter
Common Cause Urges South Carolina to Evacuate Prison Inmates in Path of Hurricane Florence
Common Cause urges you to begin the immediate evacuation of all incarcerated individuals under your care that are in Hurricane Florence evacuation zones.
Report
Democracy Behind Bars
How money in politics, felony disenfranchisement and prison gerrymandering fuel mass incarceration and undermine democracy.
Press
News Clip
USA Today: Nebraska removes two-year waiting period for felons to vote
RISE is among the 31 member groups that make up the Nebraska Voting Rights Restoration Coalition, which counts Common Cause Nebraska among its members. Gavin Geis, the Executive Director, says restoring voting rights helps reduce recidivism by creating stronger community ties.
"It's a way of engaging people in their communities that was cut off before," Geis said. "So beyond getting to vote on who represents you, I think this helps tie people back into their neighbors and their community in a way that will hopefully reduce the...
"It's a way of engaging people in their communities that was cut off before," Geis said. "So beyond getting to vote on who represents you, I think this helps tie people back into their neighbors and their community in a way that will hopefully reduce the...
Press Release
44 GROUPS URGE LAWMAKERS TO CO-SPONSOR INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY ACT, RESTORE VOTING RIGHTS OF MILLIONS AHEAD OF THE ELECTION
Today, 44 organizations representing the National Voting in Prison Coalition sent a letter to members of the House of Representatives urging them to co-sponsor the Inclusive Democracy Act (IDA), legislation to end felony disenfranchisement in federal elections for individuals completing their sentence inside and outside of prison and jail. The IDA was introduced earlier this year by Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-7). Currently, the IDA has 23 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives and is awaiting a hearing.
News Clip
Public News Service: Bill aims to restore voting rights for those incarcerated in Alabama, US
Keisha Morris Desir, justice and mass incarceration project manager for Common Cause, said the Inclusive Democracy Act is the first of its kind to include voting rights for people even if they are still behind bars.
"This is the first really expansive bill that would allow everyone -- including those who are currently incarcerated, on parole and probation -- to vote in a federal election," Desir explained.
"This is the first really expansive bill that would allow everyone -- including those who are currently incarcerated, on parole and probation -- to vote in a federal election," Desir explained.
Ric Bainter
Member