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Welcome to our 2025 Legislative Interns
Get to know our new 2025 Legislative Interns and learn more about their work over the course of the 90-day session
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.
Your financial support helps us make an impact by holding power accountable and strengthening democracy.
Updates
Blog Post
The Restoration of Voting Rights in Maryland
Related Resources
Letter
Letter of Support from National Voting in Prison Coalition on HB 627 & HB 1022
Pay to Play: Bail Bond Industry (2017)
Maryland ranks third among the states for campaign donations by the bail bond industry. Research found high rates of campaign contributions from the bail bond industry to influential Maryland officials.
Press
Press Release
Maryland Lawmakers Fail to Pass Voter Reg. for Returning Citizens
“Maryland had an opportunity to prioritize access to voter registration for those impacted by the criminal legal system, but let politics get in the way."
News Clip
Lawmakers debate bills to improve quality of life behind bars for MD inmates
Lawmakers are debating how to help the prison population this session.
Press Release
TODAY: Advocates testify in support of prison voting access bills
Testimony on HB 1022, a bill that would expand political rights to Marylanders that are serving or have served time in jails and prisons.