Voting Rights Watch: Disenfranchisement Index

The following Institute Index appeared in the latest Facing South email newsletter. If you don't receive Facing South via email already, sign up in the box in the upper right hand corner. It's free, and a great way to stay in touch with news, politics and trends in the South!

INSTITUTE INDEX: Disenfranchisement by Design

Estimated number of Americans who have currently or permanently lost their voting rights because of a felony conviction: 5.3 million

Of those, number that are ex-offenders who have completed their sentences: 2.1 million

Number of black men who are disenfranchised as a result of a felony conviction: 1.4 million

Percentage of black men that represents: 13

Number of times by which black men's disenfranchisement rate exceeds the national average: 7

In states that disenfranchise ex-offenders, percent of black men who may permanently lose their right to vote: 40

Number of states that permit even inmates to vote: 2*

Number of states that deny voting rights to all convicted felons for life: 2**

Number of Virginians permanently disenfranchised as of 2004 due to felony convictions: 377,000

Of those disenfranchised Virginians, percent who are black: 55

Number of nonviolent felons who've had their voting rights restored by Virginia's two recent Democratic governors: 5,990

Number of Alabama inmates who filled out voter registration forms over the course of two days last month before the effort was halted by the Republican prison commissioner: 80

Percent of South Carolina elections officials who answered incorrectly when surveyed last month about ex-felons' voting rights: 48

Estimated number of ex-felons who were unable to vote in Florida during the 2004 election: 960,000

George Bush's winning margin over John Kerry in Florida that year: 380,978

* Maine and Vermont
** Kentucky and Virginia