U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) has joined forces with Senator Laphonza Butler (D-CA) and ten other colleagues to introduce the Next Step Home Act. This legislation is aimed at restoring voting rights for individuals with felony convictions who have been released under the First Step Act and have successfully reintegrated into society.
"Despite having served their sentences and working to reintegrate to society, millions of previously incarcerated Americans are still unjustly denied access to the ballot," said Senator Hirono. "The right to vote is essential to our democracy and I’m proud to support the Next Step Home Act to help ensure returning citizens can make their voices heard."
The proposed act builds on the success of the First Step Act, a significant bill that initiated reform of the criminal justice system. It required the Attorney General to develop a risk and needs assessment system for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, which would assess recidivism risk needs for federal prisoners and place them in programs designed to address these needs and reduce recidivism risk. The First Step Act has seen recidivism rates among its beneficiaries fall to 12.4%, while also helping reduce overcrowded prison populations by at least 30,000 people.
Currently, 4.6 million Americans are disenfranchised from federal elections due to felony convictions - a figure that has quadrupled since mass incarceration began in 1973. The Next Step Home Act aims to continue efforts in criminal justice reform by restoring federal voting rights to individuals released from incarceration under the First Step Act.
Endorsements for this legislation come from The Brennan Center, League of Women Voters, End Citizens United, Move to Amend, Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), Alliance for Safety and Justice, Sojourners-SojoAction, and United Church of Christ.
Alongside Senators Hirono and Butler, cosponsors of the Next Step Home Act include Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL.), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tina Smith (D-MN), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
The full text of the legislation is available for public viewing.