Preventing people with previous criminal histories from voting contributes to the racial divide polarizing our country. More than two million African-Americans (almost 8 percent of black adults) are prevented from voting because of felony convictions, compared to just under 2 percent of non-African-American citizens.
Punishment needs to fit the offense, and lengthy disenfranchisement is simply out of proportion for all but the most serious crimes.
In 2016, the average length of stay for parole in Wisconsin was estimated at 38 months, or over 3 years, this is 1.7 times greater than the average across all states (22 months), ranking Wisconsin third nationally in terms of expected length of time people spend under parole supervision. [1]
Fourteen states and the District of Columbia currently automatically allow people with previous criminal histories to register to vote after being released from jail or prison.