Felons Archives | American Democracy Minute

Appeals Court Affirms North Carolina’s Jim Crow-Era Returning Felon Voting Law is Unconstitutional, and Questions Why It Wasn’t Repealed

September 24, 2025September 24, 2025

The striking down of an 1877 Jim Crow-era law making it a crime for citizens convicted of a felony to vote when their rights had not yet been restored was affirmed by a federal appeals court Sept. 12th. Judges asked why the North Carolina legislature had not already repealed the law.

After losing two recounts in State Supreme Court Race, North Carolina GOP Candidate Is Still Challenging the Eligibility of 60,000 Voters

December 11, 2024December 11, 2024

After two recounts, an incumbent North Carolina Supreme Court justice was declared the winner by 734 votes, with 5.5 million ballots cast. Her GOP challenger now claims 60,000 of those voters were ineligible.

Virginia’s Governor Ended Automatic Voting Rights Restoration for 12,000 Returning Felons this Year. A State Error Almost Disenfranchised 3,400 More.

November 5, 2023November 13, 2023

News broke recently that the State of Virginia mistakenly revoked voting rights for 270 formerly incarcerated felons whose rights had previously been restored. An investigation shows that number has ballooned to 3,400 Virginians.

Federal Court Strikes Down Mississippi Constitutional Provision With Racist History Keeping 11% of Its Population from Voting

August 20, 2023December 30, 2023

Mississippi has the highest percentage of voting-age citizens who are not able to vote due to past felony convictions. In early August, a federal court struck down the responsible Jim Crow provision in Mississippi’s constitution, citing “cruel and unusual punishment.”

Minnesota Restores Voting Rights to as Many as 55,000 Formerly Incarcerated Felons

March 7, 2023March 7, 2023

Because there are so many efforts around the country to restrict the vote, our reports are often negative. Today we have a good news story from Minnesota, where as many as 55,000 more citizens can now vote.