He shakes his head quietly as he passes by with two elementary school age children in tow.

[struggle4progress]

No, he won't register to vote

I regularly get rejections. People usually say they're already registered. Some folk simply ignore my offer to register them. Now and then, somebody stops to explain patiently to me why voting is a waste of time. Very rarely, somebody is just flat-out unpleasant

So he walks past, a mask, shaking his head, his children a step or two behind, his wife herding the children from behind. And as she passes me, he suddenly turns and reminds her, You need to do this

He and the children continue their way, but she stops. She's moved and wants to update her voter registration. We stand there, in the cooling twilight, and fill out the registration form. Then it's the time for her to sign and date. So I quickly run through what she's signing: she's a citizen and the form is accurate and ... and ...

Wait a minute! she says. People that have felony convictions can't vote!

Well, yes, they can I tell her. A person who has a felony conviction can register and vote in North Carolina once they have completed their sentence and any probation or parole

They can? she asks

Yes, ma'am, I repeat, once they have completed their sentence and any probation or parole, they can register and vote

She signs and dates the form. I'm going to bring my husband back so he can register

The woman disappears after the other three. I stand in the growing chill as the daylight fades, offering to register people passing by

I've given up on seeing them again when the family reappears. He wants to make sure he understands correctly. I show him the form

We always talk before every election, she tells me. I think he has a right to have his point of view represented

I don't want to influence her vote, he says

We fill out his form. He signs and dates it. And in that moment, he seems to be experiencing a relief bordering on joy

They have questions and questions that I answer as best I can

Then I catch a glimpse of his silent children: they are staring wide-eyed at me, as if I had produced a top hat from a puff of smoke and pulled a rabbit from it

[Autumn]

1. How wonderful.

K/R

[Snotcicles]

2. The man who brought our dad dignity and happiness. nt

[struggle4progress]

7. It sometimes takes very little to begin the process of empowering people

[Snotcicles]

12. I know, you would think more people would be in on it. nt

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

60. It sometimes takes very little to make me cry anymore.

Peace be with you.

[pacalo]

3. This is SO touching & you were so gracious & helpful to them!

...once they have completed their sentence and any probation or parole, they can register and vote.


That's the way it should be in every single state.


:applause:

[Wait Wut]

29. Agree 100%.

I know plenty of folks that have mistakes in their past that are more ashamed of not being able to vote than what they've done to deserve the label. They feel they're not "real" citizens. They're able to pay for their crime with time and money, but they can never get back the right to vote. Idiotic.

[Sportsguy]

50. Me Too

I think there are some states where you can vote from prison. Not sure though. This is a good story. Thanks for posting it.

[OhioBlue]

4. Your post brought tears to my eyes!

Thank you for what you do.

That moment will be burned into the memory of those wide-eyed children. They will remember.

I imagine Dad with a spring in his step and mom with a smile.

Good on you for being there.. for helping... for participating.

[struggle4progress]

9. It really touched me to hear them tell of their election season conversations: her saying

she wanted to know how he'd vote because she thought he had a right to have his views heard, and him saying back that he thought she should vote how she wanted without his influence

I liked them both a lot for that

[OhioBlue]

14. My gosh - I am sure!!

It is so adorable, so touching, so quaint and lovely!!! All those adjectives while at the same time being about each wanting the other to have their voice heard via our Democratic process... integrity, civic duty, honesty...etc... I so love the story!!

[Chorophyll]

69. Yes. Absolutely. That struck me too.

This is a great post. Thanks for what you do. :hug:

[kaffy4x4]

38. Me Too !

[pnwmom]

5. I bet that one new voter made your whole day worthwhile.

:applause:

[struggle4progress]

8. Don't you know that's true!

[yodermon]

6. wonderful story, and wonderfully written.

:) thank you.

[Tumbulu]

10. Agreed!!! (nt)

[struggle4progress]

15. It's good to meet people: they're all different and you can learn from them.

[NYC_SKP]

70. K/R (nt)

[msanthrope]

11. Good for you. Thank you for doing this. nt

[SidDithers]

13. Awesome...

:thumbsup:

Sid

[roguevalley]

16. awesome. angels are everywhere. you are one.

[struggle4progress]

17. iirc my halo's still in the shop after it got caught in my horns and short-circuited

[roguevalley]

20. :)

:hug: You done good.

[benld74]

18. 2 weeks ago I had my 18 yr old register to vote by mail in STL.

[struggle4progress]

19. .

:thumbsup:

[cally]

21. Thanks for registering voters and the wonderful

story. You are an eloquent and gifted writer.

[BlueToTheBone]

22. Isn't voter registration the most wonderful experience!

Empowering people is the most important task on the planet. Thanks for your service!

[JNelson6563]

23. Bravo! Well done!

:toast: :hug:

[Wheezy]

24. What a touching story

and so beautifully written.

[bluesbassman]

25. Hmm, empowering people. What a concept.

I was of course touched by your story, who wouldn't be? Then it struck me who would and why. Obviously here was a man who is interested in what is happening politically, but yet was unaware that he had the ability to take part.

Disenfranchisement is not only real, it's calculated. We will see this country on the right path when it's people are actively participating in the political process and voting.

[LuckyLib]

27. You are so right. And EVERY probation officer in NC should be saying to a

client on their last appointed visit, "You do understand now that you can register and vote in any upcoming elections."

Why is that so difficult?

[Smilo]

26. Beautiful - thank you for sharing n/t

[yellerpup]

28. You are a hero to those kids.

And to me. You gave a man back his rights. That is FANTASTIC! :kick: & Rec.

[BlueIris]

30. I'm from Oregon. Telling people with felony records that they CAN still vote was the best.

One of the best things about educating people about the process, correcting false information and encouraging participation.

[stlsaxman]

31. struggle4progress- may i copy this story and post it to FB? i'd love to share it...

and i would/wouldn't credit you if/if not you consented.

it's just too cool to keep to myself! ;)

on edit: just checked my states election law and the "felony" provision is the same- once parole is ended they may vote.

[jwirr]

45. It might help others if we post the states that do allow voting such as

this here in this post.

[Skelly]

56. Best link

I have found that shows which states allow voting...
http://felonvoting.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=286

[jwirr]

59. Thank you.

[stlsaxman]

72. same link i found when checking my state. Thank you for posting it.

[struggle4progress]

48. feel free

:)

[FailureToCommunicate]

32. Well written story... with a happy ending!

Also... love your sig line!

Thanks, S4P.

[NatBurner]

33. i'm so glad i clicked this

not what i was expecting at all

good stuff

[ellisonz]

34. RESOURCE: Voting for people with felony convictions by state.

http://felonvoting.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000286

In Richardson v. Ramirez, the United States Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of felon disenfranchisement statutes, finding that the practice did not deny equal protection to disenfranchised voters. The Court looked to Section 2 of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which proclaims that States which deny the vote to male citizens, except on the basis of "participation of rebellion, or other crime", will suffer a reduction in representation. Based on this language, the Court found that this amounted to an "affirmative sanction" of the practice of felon disenfranchisement, and the 14th Amendment could not prohibit in one section that which is expressly authorized in another. However, many critics argue that Section 2 of the 14th Amendment merely allows but does not represent an endorsement of felon disenfranchisement statutes as constitutional in light of the equal protection clause; but is limited only to the issue of reduced representation. The Court did rule however in Hunter v. Underwood 471 U.S. 222, 232 (1985) that a state's felony disenfranchisement provision will violate Equal Protection if it can be demonstrated that the provision, as enacted, had "both impermissible racial motivation and racially discriminatory impact." A felony disenfranchisement law, which on its face is indiscriminate in nature, cannot be invalidated by the Supreme Court unless its enforcement is proven to discriminate and it was enacted with racially discriminate animus.

Currently, over 5.3 million people in the USA are denied the right to vote because of felony disenfranchisement. <5>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felony_disenfranchisement#United_States

[cate94]

35. That is a great story

and you are a talented writer. More than that, you are a great citizen. Thank you.

[FourScore]

36. This iswhy I come to DU. n/t

[mother earth]

37. Now, if only we can make sure it cannot be hacked.

We should all be represented, every last one of us.

[libodem]

39. .

:patriot:

[varelse]

40. Awesome

:)

[Paka]

41. Kudos for your role in making the country a better place. n/t

[ZombieHorde]

42. Awesome. nt

[a2liberal]

43. K&R (n/t)

[jwirr]

44. Years ago I was working for a campaign in Iowa and a man and his

wife befriended me and my children. As we got to know each other working side by side for our candidate he told me he had a felony record and had spent time in a federal prison. He knew he could not vote but he was doing everything in the book to work for the campaign. I think the vote is one of the the most valuable things that you can lose. He and his wife showed me and my children - who worked with them more than I did as we were working on different jobs - that being politically active was very important.

I am glad that some states are finally changing the lifetime lose of any human beings right to vote. Like what you did for this family. When I voted that year I did not vote for myself - I voted for him.

[Number23]

46. Wow. This is truly informative. I wouln't be surprised if many, many Americans didn't know this

Rec'd.

[struggle4progress]

49. the situation varies state-by-state

laws can be changed, and this wasn't always the law in nc: in fact, some years ago, several members of my precinct helped push for this change

[onethatcares]

47. and this folks, is what prickscott and the pukes in Floriduh

don't want to happen at any time.

For some reason, I understand that Alaska has a very liberal stance on civil rights restoration which goes as far as superceding the Federal firearm statutes. Don't ask me why, it's just something I read at one time.

I'm thoroughly amazed that North Carolina allows the vote.

Struggle4Progress, you are a good man.

[Enthusiast]

51. K&R! That is moving.

Thank you for your efforts.

[12AngryBorneoWildmen]

52. Beautiful

[Dystopian]

53. KandR

Inspiring and beautiful story...

Thank you for sharing...


peace~

[MindandSoul]

54. Beautiful! Truly inspiring. Thanks for your hard work!

[aquart]

55. Joy.

[Riley18]

57. Your post made me tear up. What you did for that family brought their dignity back.

I think in Florida that people with felony convictions are not allowed to vote. It should be a federal law that once you serve your time your rights are restored.

[great white snark]

58. Wonderful post.

A joy to read, thank you.

[I Have A Dream]

61. Wonderful! I truly didn't expect the ending from the beginning.

:thumbsup:

Thank you for giving this gift to this family.

[struggle4progress]

62. Me neither! Just when I think I know people, I find I really don't!

[I Have A Dream]

63. Yeah, makes me think that maybe I'd better hold off on the judgment...

more often. Looks can certainly be deceiving, and first impressions are often wrong. I'm so glad that it was the case here.

:)

[James48]

64. I'm crying.

America IS full of wonderful people.
You are one of them.

[UpInArms]

65. for you - and them -

:applause:

[Kali]

66. I am so glad you told the lounge about this.

I never look on the home page and I have been busy today so didn't see it on the latest (not that I spend much time there either). Now my nose is all clogged and it isn't from the wind and storm coming in.

Beautiful. thank you.

[Taverner]

67. Good on ye!

:thumbsup:

[PavePusher]

68. If only they could get all their other Rights back too.... n/t

[lunatica]

71. Ya know, you just never know when you're going to do something wonderful for others

just by doing what you do.

You have the right to feel good. What you did was good.