FELON DISENFRANCHISEMENT PROJECT SUMMARY
In
Locked Out: Felon Disenfranchisement and
American Democracy (2006, Oxford University Press), Christopher Uggen of the University
of Minnesota and Jeff Manza of New York University address the following
questions:
1.
Scope: How many people are affected?
o
Approximately
5.85 million Americans were affected
by these laws in December 2010 (2.23 million were African American).
o
See also: For earlier
estimates, see Christopher Uggen & Jeff Manza.
2002. "Democratic
Contraction? The Political Consequences of Felon Disenfranchisement in the
United States." American
Sociological Review 67:777-803.
2.
Public Opinion: Does the public support
strict felon voting restrictions?
o
No.
Our Harris poll showed that 80%
favor returning voting rights to former felons once they complete their
sentences, 60% favor reenfranchising parolees and
probationers. Only 31%, however, favor allowing current prisoners to vote.
o
See also: Jeff Manza, Clem Brooks, & Christopher Uggen. 2004. “Public
Attitudes Toward Felon Disenfranchisement in the
United States.” Public Opinion Quarterly
68:276-87 and 2012 What Americans Believe
about Voting Rights for Criminals.
3.
Impact: Do felon voting laws affect
elections?
o
Yes, but only in close
Republican victories in states with very strict laws. Felon voting bans likely affected
the 2000 presidential election and 7 U.S. Senate elections.
o
See also: Also American Sociological Review 67:777-803.
4.
Origins: Where do the laws come from?
o
They
have ancient roots, but many strict
o
See also: Angela Behrens,
Christopher Uggen, & Jeff Manza. 2003. “Ballot
Manipulation and the ‘Menace of Negro Domination’: Racial Threat and Felon
Disenfranchisement in the United States, 1850-2002.” American Journal of Sociology 109:559-605.
5.
Meaning: Do felons even care about voting
and politics?
o
Our
interviews and surveys show somewhat lower
levels of political participation, trust in government, and political efficacy
among felons than in the general population. Yet many felons express strong
political views on a variety of issues.
o
See also: Christopher Uggen
& Jeff Manza. 2004. “Lost Voices: The Civic
and Political Views of Disenfranchised Felons.” Pp. 165-204 in Imprisoning
America: The Social Effects of Mass Incarceration,
ed. by M. Pattillo, D. Weiman,
& B. Western. New York: Russell Sage.
6.
Crime: Is voting linked to crime and
recidivism?
o
We
do not know whether voting reduces recidivism, but we find a strong correlation. In our
o
See also: Christopher Uggen &
Jeff Manza. 2004. “Voting and
Subsequent Crime and Arrest: Evidence from a Community Sample.” Forthcoming
in Columbia Human Rights Law Review.
For more information and updates, see www.chrisuggen.com.