Hundreds of thousands in Tennessee prevented from voting

Tens of thousands of Tennesseans with felony convictions are unable to vote in the Nov. 5 General Election.

Research by The Sentencing Project shows more than 399,000 Tennesseans are among the 4 million Americans affected by felony disenfranchisement.

Nicole D. Porter, senior director of advocacy with The Sentencing Project, said Tennessee continues to marginalize people post-incarceration, mainly due to its complex process to restore their rights. She noted there are several options for restoring rights but few manage to overcome the obstacles involved.

"People have to submit applications for their rights restoration. They have to seek a pardon for their rights restoration," Porter outlined. "In order to be eligible, it's not just automatic eligibility but people have to satisfy fines and fees, and in those fees, include being current on child support payments."

The report showed fewer than 3,500 Tennesseans had their voting rights restored between 2018 and 2023. Porter added The Sentencing Project wants Tennessee to consider changing its current policies and to allow people still in prison, regardless of their crime or conviction, to vote. Critics of the idea argued those who are convicted of serious crimes should lose their voting rights.

Porter noted disenfranchisement affects both incarcerated and non-incarcerated people in several southern states, including Tennessee. The report showed it has led to racial inequity. Across the country, one in 22 African Americans of voting age is disenfranchised. She added it also focuses on the disproportionate effect of disenfranchisement on women.

"The report also highlights the gender disenfranchisement estimates across states, and that is new to the report," Porter explained. "We estimate the number of women with felony convictions who are disenfranchised nationally, and also within states."

It estimated 764,000 women make up just under one-fifth of the total disenfranchised population. Porter added The Sentencing Project researchers hope the report sheds light on the persistent problem of felony disenfranchisement as outdated and racially biased.

Support for this reporting was provided by The Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Tennessee News Service