Press Release – Voting Rights for Ex-felons

PRESS RELEASE

Rep. Donna McLeod Works with State Agencies to Inform Ex-Offenders of Voting Eligibility

ATLANTA – State Representative Donna McLeod (D-Lawrenceville) recently worked with the Georgia Department of Corrections (DOC) and the Georgia Department of Community Supervision (DCS) to develop new policies to inform ex-offenders of their eligibility to vote.

“I am grateful to these two state agencies for tackling this important issue, and I am proud of these recent policy changes that will help ex-offenders engage in Georgia’s election process,” said Rep. McLeod. “Many offenders are unaware that their right to vote is automatically restored after completing their sentence, and it is important to provide this information to them as soon as possible. As a state legislator, I am dedicated to ensuring that all eligible voters are made aware of their right to vote, including these ex-offenders that are working to reenter society.”

During the 2019 legislative session, Rep. McLeod worked with the DOC to revise the 2019 Reentry Skills Handbook to inform ex-felons of their eligibility to vote. The DOC’s 2019 Reentry Skills Handbook now discusses Georgia’s restoration of rights policy, and it clarifies that an offender’s right to vote is automatically restored upon completion of a sentence. The handbook also informs ex-offenders the need to register to vote and voter ID requirements. The 2019 Reentry Skills Handbook is given to each inmate that leaves the DOC.

Rep. McLeod also worked with the DCS to update their policies and procedures for Community Supervision Officers (CSOs). CSOs are now required to provide a reminder to offenders of the restoration of their rights, including voter rights, upon completing community supervision sentencing. The DCS now sends a Termination Letter with voting rights information to offenders after completing their sentences. The department’s updated procedures are included in the DCS Policy and Procedure Statement, which outlines the department’s responsibilities when managing offenders placed on community supervision after being released from prison. The revised statement went into effect April 1, 2019.

For more information about the DOC 2019 Reentry Skills Handbook, please click here.

For more information about the DCS Policy and Procedure Statement, please click here.

Representative Donna McLeod represents the citizens of District 105, which includes portions of Gwinnett County. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2018 and currently serves on the Code Revision, Human Relations & Aging, Interstate Cooperation and Science & Technology committees.

###