Sacramento State has a program to support students who鈥檝e been incarcerated called Project Rebound.
Program Housing Coordinator Harold Jordan helps students register to vote and generally get the word out that they can. He has also been incarcerated for a felony in the past.
鈥淚 think that it empowers somebody, you know?鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey're no longer voiceless.鈥�
Four years ago, Californians voted to give people on parole for felony convictions the right to vote through . That means people are exercising that right for the first time in a presidential election this year.
鈥淣ot being able to voice my opinion, or have my voice heard through a vote was very discouraging,鈥� he said, adding that there have been elections and ballot measures he wishes he could have weighed in on.
He also said voting is really important to transitioning to life outside of prison.
鈥淚t鈥檚 part of becoming a productive student, returning to society, you know paying your taxes when you have employment, being able to vote,鈥� he said.
Tens of thousands of Californians are on parole.
of U.S. states allow people to vote once they leave prison, like California.
Maine and Vermont are the only two states where criminal convictions don鈥檛 affect a person鈥檚 right to vote, even if they鈥檙e currently serving a sentence.
In about a dozen others, the state might never restore that right for a person again.
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