Norton Calls on Federal Bureau of Prisons to Share Information with D.C. to Make It Easier for Inmates to Vote

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released the letter she sent today calling on the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to share information with the District of Columbia Board of Elections (BOE) to make it easier for inmates to register to vote and to receive their ballots. D.C. recently enacted legislation making incarcerated felons eligible to vote. However, according to public reporting, BOP has not provided BOE information on where inmates are housed, which would help BOE send inmates registration forms and ballots.

"The District of Columbia has made it clear through its law that all inmates should be allowed to vote," Norton said. "It is imperative that the Federal Bureau of Prisons provide the D.C. Board of Elections the information it needs to send voter registration forms and allots to incarcerated individuals for the November and future elections."

Norton's letter follows:

September 30, 2020

Michael Carvajal

Director

Federal Bureau of Prisons

320 First Street NW

Washington, DC 20534

Dear Director Carvajal:

As you know, the District of Columbia recently enacted legislation making incarcerated felons eligible to vote. I write with concern about the apparent lack of cooperation by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) in carrying out that law.

I understand from public reporting that the D.C. Board of Elections (BOE) has requested from BOP a list of prisoners' names and where they are housed, but has only received from BOP a list of facilities housing D.C. residents, not prisoners' names. BOP has apparently informed BOE it can only share information on specific prisoners for law enforcement purposes, not for voting. This is very disturbing as D.C. residents, including D.C. Code felons, are housed in BOP facilities across the country, and BOE must be able to reach each of them to inform them of their right to vote. Moreover, the name and location of inmates is public information and is posted on BOP's website, though it does not include their home jurisdiction. There is no reason the names and locations of inmates from D.C. should not be provided to BOE.

I ask that you make this information available immediately to BOE and that you provide a written response by October 5, 2020.

Sincerely,

Eleanor Holmes Norton