Fellow Community Member –

My name is Elana Lipkin and I am an intern with CURE. I am reaching out to you in hopes that you will sign our online petition to give DC residents incarcerated for felonies the right to vote while incarcerated. The petition is attached here.

Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants (CURE) is a grassroots organization that was created in 1972 and made a national organization in 1985. CURE aims to make sure prisons are only for those who absolutely must be incarcerated and to make sure those in prison are given the resources and opportunities necessary to turn their lives around both during and after incarceration. One of these opportunities necessary for incarcerated individuals to turn their lives around is the right to vote, even while incarcerated. I am working with CURE to propose legislation to the DC City Council in order to change the DC code and allow DC residents incarcerated for felonies to vote.

In every state besides Maine and Vermont, people incarcerated for felonies are unable to vote while incarcerated. Denying incarcerated individuals the right to vote violates human dignity that should be allotted to all people, regardless of criminality. Giving incarcerated individuals the right to vote helps with the difficult reentry process by keeping people connected to their communities and involved in decisions that concern them and their families. By signing on, you are demonstrating support for this important change in code to the city council and mayor. We greatly appreciate your support. Please reach out if you have any questions.

Your support will make it clear to the DC city council and mayor that this sort of reform is supported by many community members. Thank you for helping us make these necessary changes.

Again, here is the link to sign on to the petition: https://goo.gl/forms/ykD3BkzZ23ww3pNg1