D.C. ex-offenders sway political elections by the thousands
By: Dr. Samori Swygert
In Washington, D.C., ex-offenders are gradually changing the political landscape of the city. April 1st will be the day of reckoning for the D.C. Mayoral election. The current Mayor, Vincent Gray, isn’t dismissing any potential vote. Ex-offenders represent a significant burgeoning political demographic that politicians are forced to consider in elections. The amount of eligible re-entry voters are approaching a critical mass that can sway local elections that teeter on delicate political margins.
According to an article published by the Washington Post, 1 in 10 D.C. residents are ex-offenders. A 2008 city survey reported that approximately “60,000 citizens have a criminal record”. A spokesperson from the Office of Returning Citizens Affairs gives a higher projection of 75,000 to account for the time lapse since the initial survey. Courtney Stewart is the director of The Reentry Network for Returning Citizens, and he reported that his nonprofit group registered up to 4,000 ex-offenders prior to the 2010 mayoral election. Prior to the 2008 election of President Barack Obama, an estimated 10,000 ex-offenders were registered to vote. Furthermore, 8,000 ex-offenders return to D.C. annually from federal and local prison.
Election ballots are even being delivered to correctional facilities for eligible offenders. The correctional system is specific in its terminology and characterization of offenders. There are felons, parolees, probationers, and a myriad of individuals under correctional supervision for various reasons. Despite the criminal record, Mayor Gray has made an all-out attempt to tap into this power base. He’s promised to utilize $100 million dollars of reserved funding to help ex-offenders obtain affordable housing. According to the article, D.C. has hired 534 ex-cons as bus drivers, camp directors, and bus attendants. 400 ex-offenders have gained employment with construction firms. The city has financed the training of 112 ex-offenders to obtain commercial driver’s license training. All of this has occurred under Mayor Gray’s watch.
Mayor Gray promises even more assistance if re-elected. He has reported that he wants to provide the necessary assistance with jobs and housing to reduce the chances of recidivism.
I think that this is an important political issue. Close to 2 dozen states have become more lenient and less stringent with the restoration of voting rights for ex-offenders. When people commit crime and serve the time, they should be allowed the right to participate in the voting process and have a say in the laws that affect them. We must also think about the number cases nationwide where innocent people have been exonerated by DNA, evidence tampering, witness intimidation, and plain mistaken identity. Should these individuals be denied the right to vote because the criminal justice system failed them? Furthermore, it would be hypocritical to deny this right when we profess to be a forgiving and accepting country. This demographic may prove to be the political wildcard that upsets the plans of many highly conservative think-tanks.
What are your thoughts?
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