Vote Today! Gone Tomorrow!

(Written 2001)

As a child, I remember the importance of voting in my family household. Both parents were active in civic organization and community activities, while working regular jobs and raising eight children. I learned about the democratic process by voting on kitchen chores and the laundry assignments with my siblings. Majority rule, though seniority (oldest) was often more significant.

Electoral politics were always interesting and sacred to me. My parents voted every year and were quite proud of their right to vote. As with most black people of this civil rights era, we were a democratic family. Though they never disclosed their specific vote selection, we were encouraged to learn about the social movement and to be aware of the political rhetoric.

During this lengthy period of imprisonment, I have voted "absentee ballot" for local, state and national elections. I have assisted in the registration drive of Massachusetts prisoners and performed volunteer work in several local political campaigns. With the increased activism I felt a strong sense of connection with people in the community beyond these walls. It should be obvious that voters, regardless of the residency, are more concerned about community issues.

I have never voted in the community, prior to my arrest in 1971. Afterwards, I utilized the absentee ballot for the past two decades as a registered voter in the city of Boston. The ballot form would be sent to the prison every election for me to fill out and return to City Hall. The November 2000 election may be the final one for me (Question 2) until I am released from prison. In an attempt by Governor Cellucci to "get tough on crime" I will be unable to vote for political representation in various levels of government. Prisoners are being deprived of simple amenities, such as healthy foods and appropriate apparel. The granting of parole has been dwindling downward in the past 10 years, while more prisoners are confined to secure units and receive very little preparation for release into society. It is ironic that in the same year the town of Norfolk embraced the prison population as neighbors for the census, the right to vote is being curtailed.

After the polls closed and prior to the final tally of votes, the medial will report on the small percentage of eligible voters participating in the election. It is often attributed to voter apathy or lack of interest in the candidates. Despite such lethargy, this country continues the trend to deny a segment of society the right to vote in political elections. Massachusetts will probably join with 47 other states to prohibit prisoners from voting. Approximately 4 million human beings can't vote because of a criminal record, while over 1 million never entered a prison cell. It is estimated that one and a half million black men are unable to vote because of current incarceration or prior felony conviction.

The founding fathers established a privileged class of wealthy white men as voters in the political campaigns, to elect a rich fella of European flavor. During the past two hundred years, men of color, poor people and women have been allowed to participate, though elements of elitism remain intact. In recent years, a large percentage of the above mentioned have either become disinterested with the charades or prevented from interacting within the political process. Eventually, wealthy white men will again be the primary voters, as others will be prohibited from the polling booths.