TARRA: Society has kind of cast us aside as
people that don't matter, and we do matter
and that's the way our voices are heard, is by voting.
HOLLY: There are plenty of initiatives on the ballot
that affect formerly incarcerated people.
DEIGHTON: There's a lot of laws and things that are
going on that we have no knowledge of, and if we're
not voting then our voice isn't being heard.
VAUGHN: There's a lot of things out here that could
benefit you that are on the ballot.
TARRA: If you're formerly incarcerated and you're not
voting, you're really allowing other people to dictate
your future.
VAUGHN: I mean, you have to advocate for yourself
and your vote is you advocating for yourself.
NOELLE: Disabilities don't stop - should not stop
people from voting.
VAUGHN: Depending on what your disability is, there
is help out there and accommodations to help you vote.
TARRA: You can have other people help you
with your ballot.
DEIGHTON: Or you can get assistance
at the polling booth.
TARRA: You can ask your county elections department
to provide some kind of accommodation for you.
VAUGHN: They do make accommodations
for everyone to vote.
NOELLE: I vote because I care about housing.
HOLLY: Rights for felons.
TARRA: Giving second chances to people
in my situation.
DEIGHTON: I care about funding for education
because everyone deserves to go to school.
VAUGHN: Special needs children in schools
that deserve a chance and an education.
NOELLE: The food stamp laws.
DEIGHTON: Treatment for people that are still stuck in
active addiction or alcoholism.
HOLLY: The recovery community.
TARRA: Being able to pay off my court fines.
DEIGHTON: Equal rights for people of color and
other minorities.
TARRA: Gettng a job even though I have a
criminal history.
NOELLE: Voting can help change all of those situations.
DEIGHTON: Most people can vote if they're
formerly incarcerated, however the laws are different
from state to state.
HOLLY: For example in Washington state you have to
complete community custody in order to vote.
TARRA: However in Kentucky, you have to apply for
an executive pardon from the governor.
HOLLY: While in Maine and Vermont you are able to vote
while you're still incarcerated.
VAUGHN: If you have been formerly incarcerated,
and you want to find out about
getting your voting rights back in your state,
because every state is different, go to VoteDisability.org
HOLLY: Once you find out you're eligible to vote
the first step is to register.
NOLLE: So if you're not registered to vote and you
have not done so in the past,
you can go to this link right here:
DEIGHTON: You can register to vote at this link:
NOELLE: Do some research on what the topics are
on the ballot.
DEIGHTON: You can get informed on the issues by
doing research on the internet.
HOLLY: I go to each website listed
in the voters' pamphlet.
TARRA: You can look through a variety of voters' guides.
VAUGHN: I do read about the candidates.
DEIGHTON: Watching the news.
VAUGHN: I watch some of the debates.
DEIGHTON: Talking to friends, family, co-workers,
the guy next to you on the bus on the way to work.
NOELLE: There's PTA meetings if you don't have time
that you can hear a discussion about it.
DEIGHTON: Our voices are not being heard,
and our needs are not being met.
NOELLE: Giving you your voting rights back is just
the start of opening the doors for your freedom,
opening the doors to make changes for
the next generation.
DEIGHTON: We need to go out and vote to make a
difference not only in our communities, but also
in the world.
VAUGHN: There's so many different things that
I'm passionate about as far as what's going on in
our country today that, I get out and vote.
HOLLY: Get your voice heard, vote!