This November 3rd, California voters will have the opportunity to vote on several new propositions that will affect the law and governance of the state. One of these propositions is Proposition 17; restoring the right to vote to parolees. 

Parolees are citizens on parole. They are prisoners released before their sentence fully completes, as long as they agree to abide by certain laws. In California, 50,000 parolees have the right to pay taxes, have a job, and own property, but none of them have the right to vote. 

“[Parolees] haven’t finished their sentence!”, argues Ruth Weiss, Vice President of the Election Integrity Project California (EIPCa). She is an opponent of Proposition 17. 

Meanwhile, supporters of Proposition 17 claim voting rights could be greatly beneficial to these parolees. 

“Evidence shows that people who are able to become civically engaged in their communities after they are released are actually three times more likely to never be arrested again”, claim’s the Yes on 17 organization’s main website. The organization is made up of former prisoners and other individuals who hope to restore voting rights to fellow citizens.

However, Weiss argues against this point.

“If you disaggregate the stats, you will find that the statement is true for the lesser offenders, who just lost their way and committed a more-or-less minor infraction”, she says. “I doubt that would hold true among major felons such as murderers, rapists, child traffickers- those who go to prison and potentially enter the prison system”. 

Basically, Weiss believes that criminals who had committed a less serious felony, such as a burgulary, would more likely be able to get their life back on track. Any murderer or rapist who ended up on parole would be less likely to abstain from criminal activity in the future, and as such, not possess the privilege to vote. 

Proposition 17 is supported by many California politicians. These include Governor Gavin Newsom, U.S. Senator and Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris, and Congressional Representative Eric Swallwell. Prop 17 is also supported by the California Democratic Party, Libertarian Party of California, ACLU of California, Los Angeles Times, and San Francisco Chronicle, to name a few. 

Proposition 17 is opposed by the aforementioned EIPCa and the Republican Party of California. 

A September poll from polling firm SurveyUSA has predicted Proposition 17 to be approved. Out of 588 voters, 55% voted YES, 19% voted NO, and 26% were undecided. 

Voters this year will have to decide who else gets the same right to vote as them.

Weiss and other opponents of Proposition 17 say, “Parole is part of their sentence”. 

Proponents of Proposition 17 say, “Stripping the right to vote from formerly incarcerated people is a form of voter suppression that is deeply out of step with our values”.