Number
181490
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. COGGS, HAMILTON, JOHNSON, RAINEY, DODD, STAMPER, PEREZ, BAUMAN, ZIELINSKI, BORKOWSKI, DONOVAN, WITKOWSKI, AND LEWIS
Title
Resolution supporting U.S. House Bill 7359, relating to voter restoration and registration for prison inmates.
Analysis
This resolution supports U.S. House Bill 7359, which seeks to require the U.S. Bureau of Prisons to include voter restoration and registration as part of its planning program preparing inmates for re-entry into society. This resolution also directs the Department of Administration-Intergovernmental Relations Division to lobby the U.S. Congress to enact such legislation.
Body
Whereas, Of the estimated 19 million people in the U.S. who have felony convictions, 13 million are likely eligible to vote based on current state laws; and
Whereas, An estimated 700,000 people currently detained in prison across the U.S. are eligible to vote; and
Whereas, The availability of voter education and registration materials in prisons is often at the discretion of local sheriffs and other correction officials; and
Whereas, Many juveniles who are imprisoned become eligible to vote during their time of incarceration; and
Whereas, A 2004 study by Columbia Human Rights Law Review showed that felons and other prisoners who participate in the voting process are less likely to be re-arrested in the future; and
Whereas, On December 20, 2018, U.S. Representative Gwen Moore introduced U.S. House Bill 7359 to require the U.S. Bureau of Prisons to include voter restoration and registration as part of its planning program preparing inmates for re-entry into society; and
Whereas, Representative Moore proposes that U.S. House Bill 7359 allow for use of Department of Justice funds for voter restoration education and grants to encourage voting among eligible detained and incarcerated persons; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the City supports U.S. House Bill 7359, sponsored by Representative Gwen Moore, to support efforts to ensure incarcerated people can better understand their voting rights and use them if they are eligible to cast ballots; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Department of Administration-Intergovernmental Relations Division is directed to lobby the U.S. Congress to enact such legislation; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City Clerk shall forward a copy of this resolution to each member of Wisconsin’s delegation to the U.S. Congress.
Requester
Drafter
LRB 173289-1
Aaron Michelson
1/10/2019