ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the impact of felon disenfranchisement. Patterns in who is most impacted by felon disenfranchisement laws mirror those of mass incarceration—effects of both are concentrated in Communities of Color. Research on the impact of disenfranchisement laws on political participation and election outcomes is mixed. These are not the only considerations worthy of attention; however, the author also considers the rapid growth of legal financial obligations (LFOs) and their increasingly important role in preventing formerly incarcerated people from voting. Finally, the chapter reviews the phenomenon of prison gerrymandering—this is when, during redistricting, states count people where they are incarcerated (mostly White, rural areas) rather than where they are from (mostly urban, Communities of Color). These practices exacerbate the effects of disenfranchisement laws, especially for Communities of Color.
