Teachers Guide to Election Reform Page 1 LESSON 5: SHOULD FORMER FELONS BE ALLOWED TO VOTE? Lesson Overview: Students will analyze whether former felons should be allowed to vote. Students will examine the implications of allowing former felons to vote. They will look at how race factors into this topic. Teaching Procedures: Activity 1: Felons in some states can lose their right to vote. However, whether a felony conviction results in disenfranchisement, for how long, and what one must do (if anything) to regain voting rights varies by state. The implications for allowing those who have been convicted could have a large impact on elections. Read the special report published in The Washington Times on July 14, 2002. (Student Handout Number 7) Note to teachers: Because of the length of this handout, you may want to use this section as an optional assignment for extra credit. One extra credit activity that would allow all students to understand what this reporter is saying would be to have the students assume the role of a television reporter. Ask the each student to prepare a sound byte about the article. Each section should be given to a different student to prepare. Ask students to share their sound byte with the class.   “Right to vote?” Margie Hyslop   The Washington Times  Published 7/14/2002 Special Report “BALTIMORE   —   In  a  parking  lot  behind  a  tattered  strip  mall,  dozens  of felons   milled   about   —   fast-food   bags   and   drinks   in   hand   —   waiting   in   92 degree heat to rally.   The   day   was   symbolic,   Marvin   "Doc"   Cheatham   told   the   crowd   of   roughly 100,  mostly  black  former  drug  abusers  gathered  behind  the  storefront  meeting rooms of a rehabilitation and job training program. It  was  June  19,  or  Juneteenth:  On  that  date  in  1865,  slaves  in  Texas  learned President Lincoln had freed them two years earlier.   Felons   are   now   mobilizing   to   reclaim   liberties,   particularly   that   fundamental element  of  political  participation  —  the  right  to  vote,  said  Mr.  Cheatham,  the president    of    the    Baltimore    City    Board    of    Elections    and    an    advocate    for restoring the vote to felons. "It's time for us to get up and stop waiting for people to give us something we can get ourselves," rally organizer Israel Cason told the crowd, which cheered in agreement.