This one is as straight-forward as it gets. Should people who have served their sentence in state prison be able to vote while on parole? California has about 50,000 such parolees.SourceLegislative Analyst's OfficeProposition 17“(People are generally supervised in the community on state parole for a period of time after they serve a state prison term for a serious or violent crime. Currently, there are roughly 50,000 people on state parole.)”Read more
Simply put, parole is a re-entry program for people who have served their sentence in a California state prison. Once out, parolees are supervised by parole agents who sometimes assist parolees with housing, employment, medical care, or social activities.SourceShouse Law GroupExplanation of California Parole Law“Parole agents report directly to the Board of Parole Hearings. They prepare plans and recommendations for their “clients” prior to release. They also help their parolees arrange for services such as employment, housing, medical care and counseling services, and social activities.”Read more The Department of Corrections can vary the intensity of the supervision, and parolees must abide to certain conditions during parole, such as being searched without warrant at any time. The average length is three years, but it can go up to life, in the case of convicted murderers.SourceShouse Law GroupExplanation of California Parole Law“Once an inmate is placed on parole, the length of supervision depends, once again, on the crime for which he/she was convicted. Average parole terms are about three years, although some are five, and some are ten. Those convicted of murder will be placed on parole for life, although even that parole law will have exceptions. ”Read more
Currently, parolees cannot vote. Prop 17, if passed, would allow parolees to vote.SourceLegislative Analyst's OfficeProposition 17“Proposition 17 changes the State Constitution to allow people on state parole to register to vote, thereby allowing them to vote. (Because current state law allows registered voters to run for elective offices, this measure would result in people on state parole being able to do so as well, if they meet existing qualifications such as not having been convicted of perjury or bribery.)”Read more
The Yes side says that California is behind other states on this: 17 states + DC allow those on parole to vote.SourceLA TimesEndorsement: Yes on Proposition 17: Parolees deserve the right to vote“Seventeen states and the District of Columbia allow parolees to vote, and another two never take that right away from imprisoned felons.”Read more They say people on parole have served their time and repaid their debt to society, and that allowing them to vote will help them reintegrate into society by investing in it.SourceThe Mercury News and East Bay TimesEditorial: Who should be allowed to cast a ballot in California?“Our goal with imprisonment should be rehabilitation. If someone has qualified for parole, we should help them normalize their return to civilian life. Voting is a key part of that process. These are people who will be holding jobs and paying taxes. They should also have the opportunity to fully participate in society.”Read more The Yes side also notes that these people are disproportionately Black and Latino men.SourceSF ChronicleEditorial: Let parolees vote in California. Vote Yes on Prop. 17.“The proposition is all about inclusion, justice and fairness. These are citizens who’ve served their time and should be allowed to vote. Also, there’s an unmistakable racial angle since Black and Latino populations are overrepresented in this state’s prison system.”Read more
The (much smaller) No side says that those who go to state prison have committed felonies, serious and violent crimes. They see parole as the "final part of their sentence", and that they need to first show they have readjusted to society before being able to vote.SourceThe San Diego Union-TribuneCommentary: Why Prop. 17 is an injustice for crime victims but also for paroled felons“Individuals released from prison after serving a term for a serious felony are required to complete parole. If they had not been granted parole, they would still be behind bars. Parole is the final portion of their sentence. It is an adjustment period when violent felons prove their desire to adjust to behaving properly and show an understanding between freedom and liberty.”Read more They say letting them vote would be an injustice to the victims of these former felons.SourceThe San Diego Union-TribuneCommentary: Why Prop. 17 is an injustice for crime victims but also for paroled felons“Granting violent criminals the right to vote before the completion of their full sentence is an injustice for their victims, but it is also an injustice for them. Their self-respect depends upon knowing that they have made full restitution for their crimes and have earned a second chance.”Read more