Designing restoration of rights information
Whether or not someone has the right to vote after a felony conviction varies state by state. But one barrier that people shouldn’t have to face is knowing what their rights are in their state.
We wanted to know how much assistance states and non-government organizations provide to help formerly incarcerated citizens understand and use their voting rights. Specifically, we wanted to know how their websites communicate to individuals that they are eligible to vote, and how they explain the rights restoration process to citizens who are not yet eligible.
Voting rights after prison: The information barriers to voting after a felony
Key findings
Overall, our study found how much variance there is in how different states publicize voter information for their citizens involved in the justice system.
For many people, the internet is the first place they turn to to find out information. General search terms can lead voters to some tools and websites that help explain their rights clearly. However, we also found that many websites are highly confusing and actually become a barrier to understanding voting rights.
In some cases, the information was hard to find on the website, which meant many users could be at risk of missing it. Lack of clear guidance from the state leaves citizens at risk of falling victim to misinformation, missing an opportunity to vote, or attempting to vote when they should not.
Putting the research to work
We’ve mocked up some options for you to use as inspiration for your own website. These mock ups show ways to improve the content of your website for voters in the criminal justice system on three pages of your website:
- voter eligibility
- restoration of rights
- frequently asked questions
These recommendations are based on a review of existing state elections websites. The layout and content can be adapted to your website design. Be sure to adapt the content and check that it complies with your specific laws or eligibility rules.
Related resources
Visit our page on voter education to find more resources about designing a range of materials, including websites, that invite voters to participate.