EX-incarcerated People Organizing

There are more than 3,400 St. Louisans who cannot vote Tuesday in the city’s mayoral election because they have not yet completed their probation or parole term. Missouri activists and lawmakers are pushing to restore voting rights more quickly to formerly incarcerated people so they can participate in local and state elections.

St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson has formed a task force to investigate public health concerns in the city’s downtown jail. But advocates for inmates doubt the task force will accomplish much.

Over 62,000 people in Missouri will not be able to cast a vote in today’s presidential election because they are on probation or parole. Ex-offenders and activists are calling for lawmakers to quickly restore the voting rights of formerly incarcerated people, so they can elect people who will improve their communities.

The Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center is the most recent facility in the Missouri Department of Corrections to see a spike in cases, currently with 198 inmates at the Bonne Terre facility testing positive for COVID-19.

In Missouri, 60,000 people on parole or probation are not allowed to vote.