Advocates empower former prisoners to vote

Voting location in Chicago — People stand in long lines at Chicago’s Loop Super Site Location on the eve of the election to cast their early vote on November 2, 2020. Manuel Martinez/WBEZ Photo by Manuel Martinez/WBEZ

Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons

Formerly-incarcerated Illinoisans could become a powerful voting bloc

People stand in long lines at Chicago’s Loop Super Site Location on the eve of the election to cast their early vote on November 2, 2020. Manuel Martinez/WBEZ Photo by Manuel Martinez/WBEZ

Manuel Martinez/Manuel Martinez/WBEZ

By Andrew Meriwether

Illinois is one of sixteen states where those convicted of a felony automatically have their right to vote restored upon release from prison. But many of those who are formerly incarcerated don’t realize they have the right to vote.

Reset speaks with an organizer who is working to empower the formerly incarcerated to their voting rights.

GUESTS: Greg Chambers, policy organizer for Live Free Illinois