WASHINGTON —Hoy, 44 organizaciones que representan a la Coalición Nacional para Votar en Prisiones enviaron una carta a los miembros de la Cámara de Representantes instándolos a copatrocinar la Ley de Democracia Inclusiva (IDA, por sus siglas en inglés), una legislación para poner fin a la privación del derecho al voto en las elecciones federales para las personas que cumplen su condena dentro y fuera de la prisión. La IDA fue presentada a principios de este año por la congresista Ayanna Pressley (MA-7). Actualmente, la IDA tiene 23 copatrocinadores en la Cámara de Representantes y está a la espera de una audiencia.

“As of 2022, an estimated 4.4 million individuals are denied voting rights because of a criminal conviction, barring them from voting in federal elections. Currently, there are inconsistent systems across 48 states that treat different crimes as felonies and set different standards for disenfranchisement. All eligible residents should be allowed a voice in our democracy,” wrote the groups in a letter to lawmakers.

“Restoring the freedom to vote for all Americans impacted by the criminal legal system regardless of incarceration status would give everyone the same opportunity to fulfill their civic duty, fully participate in their communities, and make all our communities safer. Voting is a fundamental right that empowers us to have a say in the decisions that impact our lives and communities. Citizenship doesn’t stop at the prison gates, and neither should the freedom to vote.

“A racist relic of the Jim Crow era, felony disenfranchisement disproportionately hurts poor people and people of color. One in 19 Black Americans of voting age is disenfranchised, a rate 3.5 times higher than the non-Black population,” they continued.

Para leer la carta completa, haga clic aquí.