Norton, Pingree Introduce Bill to Require Federal Bureau of Prisons to Provide Eligible Incarcerated Individuals Information on Voting
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) introduced a bill today to require the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to provide incarcerated individuals from jurisdictions that allow those individuals to vote, like the District of Columbia and Maine, information on how to register to vote and request absentee ballots.
“It is imperative that these individuals be given the full range of voting information,” Norton said. “This bill would codify some past BOP practices on providing incarcerated individuals with information on voter registration and instructing them on how to request absentee ballots. Thank you to Congresswoman Pingree for co-leading this important bill.”
“Maine is only one of four states or territories that allows everyone to vote in our elections, including incarcerated people, and our democracy is stronger for it,” said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME). “Today, I’m proud to join Congresswoman Norton on a bill that would provide people in prison with information on how they can register and vote absentee. Putting up barriers for anyone to engage in civic life is undemocratic and I am hopeful that with this bill we will open up more pathways to the ballot box.”
Norton’s introductory statement follows.
Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on
the Introduction of the Federal Bureau of Prisons Voting Assistance Act
January 9, 2024
Today, I introduce the Federal Bureau of Prisons Voting Assistance Act with Congresswoman Chellie Pingree. This bill would require the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to provide incarcerated individuals from jurisdictions that allow such individuals to vote, like the District of Columbia and Maine, information on how to register to vote and request an absentee ballot. BOP would be required to provide each BOP prison information on the criteria for voter registration, instructions on voter registration, voter registration forms and prepaid envelopes for voter registration forms, if provided by the state generally. Each prison would be required to post the information in the facility and give it to each incarcerated individual eligible to vote.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
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