League of Women Voters Fall Kick-Off
- First United Church of Christ, Northfield
- 300 Union Street, Northfield, MN United States
Additional Information
The public is invited to the League of Women Voters Northfield-Cannon Falls annual fall kick-off gathering on Saturday, Oct. 3.
The program, Restoration of Dignity: Voting Rights for All, will focus on the restoration of voting rights for felons who have either never been incarcerated or completed their incarceration. The LWV has established a position on voting as a fundamental citizen right that must be guaranteed.
Secretary of State Steve Simon and Sarah Walker, founder of the Minnesota Second Chance Coalition, will discuss the status of voting rights for felons in Minnesota and efforts under way for change. The secretary of state is the chief election official in Minnesota and is responsible for administration of the Minnesota election law.
The Minnesota Second Chance Coalition describes itself as “a partnership of over 50 organizations that advocate for fair and responsible laws, policies, and practices that allow those who have committed crimes to redeem themselves, fully support themselves and their families, and contribute to their communities to their full potential.”
Currently, convicted felons who are on probation, supervised release or incarcerated are denied voting rights in Minnesota, although many other states permit voting once a felon has been released into the community. Minnesota’s Second Chance Coalition notes that the majority of individuals currently disenfranchised have never spent time in prison, and 87 percent of the state's 70,000 disenfranchised live in the community, hold jobs and pay taxes. The event will be held at the First United Church of Christ in Northfield, beginning with a social gathering at 9AM, and the program beginning at 9:30AM.