Oregon state Democrats have proposed a bill to restore prison inmates’ voting rights. If passed, Oregon would become only the third state in the country to allow people to vote while in jail or prison. According to NBC News, the proposed legislation, SB 579, would allow anyone in an Oregon jail, prison, or correctional facility to register, update their voter registration, and vote in elections using their last known address before incarceration.
Currently, Maine, Vermont, and Washington, D.C. allow incarcerated individuals to vote. In Oregon, approximately 12,000 people would have their voting rights restored under the proposed legislation. Supporters of the bill say it restores a fundamental civil right and helps with reintegration into society, leading to lower recidivism rates. However, critics argue that the legislation does not exclude felons convicted of certain violent crimes and could lead to corruption within the prison system.
The bill is likely to pass due to the Democrats’ supermajority in both Oregon legislative chambers and their governorship control. The legislation is expected to come up for a full chamber vote in the state Senate and House at the end of June.
