A 2022 study by The Sentencing Project revealed that nearly 83,000 Missourians with felony convictions were barred from voting due to felony disenfranchisement.

For Missourians with felony convictions, disenfranchisement laws that restrict voting rights due to a past or current felony conviction stand as a barrier to democracy.

Currently, Missouri law denies voting rights to individuals during imprisonment and throughout the probation or parole period following a felony conviction. Senate Bill 1199, sponsored by Sen. Curtis Trent, and House Bill 1927, sponsored by Rep. Melanie Stinnett, aim to address this issue by reinstating voting rights for those on probation or parole for a felony conviction.

While both bills restrict voting rights for individuals confined after a felony conviction, the House version additionally restricts voting rights for individuals confined after a misdemeanor.

Over 4.6 million Americans with felony convictions found themselves disenfranchised as of 2022, with Missouri standing as one of 14 states where voting rights remain withheld until the completion of parole or probation. The Missouri bills propose the automatic restoration of voting rights after release from incarceration for a felony conviction, which could improve community safety, reduce recidivism and encourage community reintegration.

A 2022 study by The Sentencing Project revealed that nearly 83,000 Missourians with felony convictions were barred from voting due to felony disenfranchisement laws  — about 2% of Missouri’s voting-age population. For these Missourians denied voting rights, the study estimates that about 20,700 are on parole and 37,700 are on felony probation.

Less than one third of Missourians who cannot vote due to a felony conviction are incarcerated, while nearly three out of every four are living in our communities completing their probation or parole. SB 1199 and HB 1927 could restore voting rights for over 58,000 Missourians.

In states where voting rights are restored post-incarceration, research suggests that allowing individuals with felony convictions to vote contributes to community safety by reducing recidivism rates. In one study, individuals were approximately 10% less likely to recidivate if there were released in an automatic restoration state as compared to a permanent disenfranchisement state.

The results from a 2020 study by a University of Pittsburgh political scientist suggest that when the voting rights of disenfranchised individuals are restored, those individuals have reduced tendencies to commit crime and experience lower rates of recidivism. Moreover, the study indicates that restoring voting rights to individuals with felony convictions increases their trust in government as well as increases confidence in political institutions and elected representatives.

Missourians on probation or parole are generally required to maintain employment as a condition of their probation or parole. Although these hard-working individuals are taking steps to reintegrate into their communities by being gainfully employed, because of felony disenfranchisement laws, they are suffering from taxation without representation. There is no rational purpose in denying parolees and probationers the right to vote; in fact, denying suffrage contradicts the purpose of rehabilitation.

The restoration of voting rights is a tangible step towards affirming individuals as valued community members, fostering a sense of belonging that is crucial for successful community reintegration.

The act of voting, and the restoration of this fundamental right, shapes the re-entry experience of justice-impacted individuals and is closely linked to their intention and perceived ability to remain law-abiding.

In Missouri, where a majority of disenfranchised individuals are on probation or parole, the restoration of voting rights is not only a matter of justice but a pragmatic step towards safer communities and increased civic engagement. By adopting these legislative changes, Missouri has the opportunity to join the 26 other states who recognize the pivotal role voting rights play in transforming the future of justice-involved individuals and in promoting overall community safety.

(Hallie Schechter is a third-year law student at Saint Louis University).