Prior to the 2020 election, lawmakers in several states sought to expand voting rights for individuals with felony convictions, and while this work is important, a large swath of voters who legally never lost the right to vote are still unable to do so because they are detained in jail. These individuals, often detained prior to trial, have the right to vote pursuant to a 1974 Supreme Court ruling in O’Brien v. Skinner. However, despite the clear legal precedent protecting voting rights for those in jail, the right remains unrealized for most incarcerated individuals due to numerous barriers. Some localities, such as the Cook County jail, have taken steps to provide access to voting to those in jail. However, a multi-faceted approach using policy and legal solutions is necessary to address disenfranchisement in jail. This Comment first examines the extent of disenfranchisement in jail by showing that disenfranchisement specifically targets indigent individuals and minorities. It also reveals the specific barriers incarcerated individuals face when trying to vote from jail. Next, this Comment reviews and critiques the existing legal landscape of voting rights for those in jail stemming from the O’Brien case. Finally, this Comment offers potential legal and policy solutions that can redress the rights violations faced by those in jail who are unable to vote.

在 2020 年大选之前，几个州的立法者试图扩大有重罪定罪的个人的投票权，虽然这项工作很重要，但一大批在法律上从未失去投票权的选民仍然无法这样做，因为他们被关押在监狱里。这些人通常在审判前被拘留，但根据 1974 年最高法院在奥布莱恩诉斯金纳案中的裁决，他们有权投票。然而，尽管有明确的法律先例保护囚犯的投票权，但由于众多障碍，大多数被监禁者的投票权仍未实现。库克县监狱等一些地方已采取措施为监狱中的人提供投票权。然而，需要采取政策和法律解决方案的多方面方法来解决监狱中剥夺公民权的问题。本评论首先探讨了监狱中剥夺公民权的程度，表明剥夺公民权专门针对贫困个人和少数群体。它还揭示了被监禁者在试图从监狱投票时面临的具体障碍。接下来，本评论回顾和批评了因奥布莱恩案而入狱的人的投票权的现有法律状况。最后，本评论提供了潜在的法律和政策解决方案，可以纠正监狱中无法投票的人所面临的权利侵犯问题。此评论回顾并批评了因奥布莱恩案而入狱的人的投票权的现有法律状况。最后，本评论提供了潜在的法律和政策解决方案，可以纠正监狱中无法投票的人所面临的权利侵犯行为。此评论回顾并批评了因奥布莱恩案而入狱的人的投票权的现有法律状况。最后，本评论提供了潜在的法律和政策解决方案，可以纠正监狱中无法投票的人所面临的权利侵犯行为。