For Former Felons, A State Line Between Voting and Disenfranchisement

Eric Harris, a former felon from Chicago, moved to Iowa to start anew but faced challenges due to disenfranchisement laws. Despite turning his life around, he and many others in Iowa are barred from voting due to felony convictions. Illinois, however, has enacted the Re-Entering Citizens Civics Education Act to educate soon-to-be-released inmates about their voting rights. Efforts continue in Iowa to amend the state constitution to restore voting rights to former felons, with the ACLU actively involved in advocacy.

What was Eric Harris's initial involvement in Chicago before moving to Iowa?

• He was a community leader.

• He was involved in street gangs.

• He was a teacher.

• He was a police officer.

What is a significant challenge for former felons like Eric Harris in Iowa?

• Getting healthcare

• Accessing education

• Regaining voting rights

• Finding housing

Which states bar citizens from voting due to a felony conviction?

• Kentucky and Iowa

• New York and Florida

• California and Texas

• Illinois and Ohio

What new law did Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker sign to help former felons?

• The Felon Employment Act

• The Education Reform Act

• The Re-Entering Citizens Civics Education Act

• The Voting Rights Act

What is the purpose of the Re-Entering Citizens Civics Education Act in Illinois?

• To provide job training

• To offer a peer-led civics program

• To reduce sentences

• To improve prison conditions

What action did Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds take regarding voting rights for former felons?

• Implemented a new tax policy

• Introduced a bill to increase prison sentences

• Proposed an amendment to restore voting rights

• Signed a law to ban voting for all felons

What organization is actively working to change voting laws for former felons in Iowa?

• The NRA

• The United Nations

• The Red Cross

• The ACLU