Events & Calendars "Incarceration, Voting and Human Rights"

The United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights says that “Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.” Unlike many nations, most of the United States deprive incarcerated men and women of the right to vote, not only when they are serving their time but also when they are released-- sometimes for many years thereafter. This not only violates the human rights of the incarcerated but also skews state and national elections. Martha Saxton, professor of history and women’s and gender studies and Elizabeth W. Bruss Reader, will discuss some of the variety of ways states disenfranchise imprisoned citizens and what the implications are for our political process.