Elections. (Credit: Montgomery County)
Of those currently incarcerated, 123 inmates submitted mail-in ballot applications.
Last week, Montgomery County Voter Services and the Montgomery County Correctional Facility (MCCF) partnered to enfranchise the eligible voters who are currently incarcerated at the prison. Of those currently incarcerated, 123 inmates submitted mail-in ballot applications; 43 of those were Montgomery County residents who were able to receive, complete, and return their mail-in ballots on the spot.
In Pennsylvania, convicted felons who are currently incarcerated are ineligible to vote, but those who are incarcerated while awaiting trial or have only been convicted of a misdemeanor are eligible. Pennsylvania is one of 23 states that automatically restore voting eligibility for felons once they are released from prison. Only 10 states have severe restrictions for convicted felons post-release, and the national trend is moving toward restoring voting rights for people with criminal records.
“We are committed to ensuring that every eligible voter in Montgomery County is able to cast a ballot in the upcoming election,” said Jamila H. Winder, chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners and vice chair of the Board of Elections. “This is especially true for marginalized and often overlooked populations, including the incarcerated, many of whom have the right to cast a ballot. Most residents of the Correctional Facility are either awaiting trial or serving a short sentence, and they will be released back into the community soon. They deserve to have a say in what the community they will be re-entering will look like.”
In advance of the visit, the Montgomery County Correctional Facility staff worked to educate the inmate population about their eligibility and proactively offered one-to-one assistance in registering to vote and applying for a mail-in ballot
“We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again—any eligible voter in Montgomery County should have the opportunity to vote,” said Neil K. Makhija, vice chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners and Chair of the Board of Elections. “Under Pennsylvania law, those who are currently incarcerated, unless they are serving time for a felony, have the right to vote. As a County, we’ve been taking proactive steps across all kinds of communities to lower the barriers to vote—whether that’s by translating our voter guides into nine different languages or bringing our mobile satellite office to senior living facilities to serve those who have mobility issues. This is just one more population of people who deserve the opportunity to be enfranchised—and it’s our duty as elections officials to bring that opportunity to them.”
“We believe strongly in rehabilitation,” said Sean McGee, warden of the Montgomery County Correctional Facility. “These individuals are going to be rejoining our communities soon, and they will face some challenges with re-integrating into society. This initiative lets them know that they are still connected to their communities and have a voice in their futures.”
“I applaud the County Commissioners for their efforts to ensure anyone eligible to vote is given the chance,” said Pennsylvania State Representative Napoleon Nelson (D-154). “As Chair of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, we have made it a priority to encourage counties across the state to do what Montgomery County has done. Restoring voting rights to incarcerated individuals is a vital step toward true justice and equality. Every citizen deserves a voice in our democracy, regardless of their circumstances. It’s time to acknowledge that disenfranchisement only deepens divisions and perpetuates injustice."
“That over 100 inmates in Montgomery County submitted mail-in ballot applications is proof that, given the opportunity, incarcerated Pennsylvanians are eager to engage in their right to democracy and make their voices heard,” said State Representative Rick Krajewski (D-188). “The Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus has spent over a year campaigning across the state to pass comprehensive incarcerated voter legislation. Every county that adopts these policies and practices is a crucial victory for voting rights in Pennsylvania.”
For more information about the 2024 Election, visit montcovotes.com.
