Rights Restoration Coalition of Georgia

What is felony disenfranchisement?

Felony disenfranchisement was added to Georgia’s state constitution in 1868 – just after chattel slavery was abolished by the 13th amendment, which granted citizenship to formerly enslaved men.

The 13th amendment contained a loophole allowing forced and unpaid labor, or “involuntary servitude,” as punishment for the commission of a crime. Southern states rushed to enact Black Codes, laws created to restrict the rights and freedoms of newly freed Black people, who were subsequently arrested and “leased” out to private enterprises, establishing the system of “convict leasing” as a means to replace slavery.

Denying the right to vote was never about public safety. It was about undermining the political power of Black people. This policy continues to disproportionately impact people of color due to racial bias in each and every stage of the criminal legal system.

It’s time we acknowledge and reckon with the purpose of felony disenfranchisement. Taking away the right to vote due to an unrelated criminal conviction undermines the very foundation of democracy. Let’s put this chapter of Georgia’s history behind us.

WHAT CHANGE DO WE WANT TO SEE?

The Rights Restoration Coalition of Georgia seeks to repeal felony disenfranchisement and restore ALL civil rights upon release from prison.

Prison Policy Initiative

ABOUT THE ISSUE:

Georgia has one of the highest rates of felony disenfranchisement in the country, with nearly 250,000 Georgians unable to vote due to a felony conviction. Most of us live and work in our communities, pay taxes, and support our families—yet remain completely excluded from policy decisions that affect all our lives. It’s time for that to change.

Under Georgia law, people lose the right to vote upon conviction of a felony and cannot register to vote until the sentence is complete, including probation and parole. However, we have more citizens per capita on probation than any other state, and our probation sentences are three times longer than the national average. These sentencing practices drive our rate of disenfranchisement as high as states who continue to deny the right to vote to people post-sentence.

Column

People hold signs outside the GA State Capitol

Democracy works when all voices are heard and represented.

We did not lose our citizenship when we were convicted. Excluding us from voting weakens our communities and undermines both efficacy and trust in civic institutions.

Rights restoration supports success after incarceration.

Civic engagement makes responsible, invested and informed citizens. When we have a say in policy decisions that directly impact our lives, we are better able to support, show up and speak up for ourselves, our families and our communities.

This policy disproportionately harms Black Georgians.

Discretionary decisions made at each step of the criminal legal process (policing, arrest, diversion, charging, sentencing) and disinvestment in communities lead to a disparate impact on people of color. As a result, Black adults make up roughly half of the disenfranchised population, despite comprising only one-third of Georgia’s adult population.

Systemic oppression harms everyone.

Felony disenfranchisement, while originally designed to disempower and suppress Black voters, impacts all our lives. When we refuse to empower and resource certain communities, we all suffer as a result.