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summary | book | articles | survey | media | support | links

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one-page project overviews

• felon voting overview
  
  
• public opinion [full article]

• NEW! felon disenfranchisement in Minnesota [2009 update]
  
  
• NEW! minnesota senate testimony [february/march 2009] [pdf] [handout]
  
  
• NEW! Christopher Uggen and Michelle Inderbitzin. 2010. "The Price and the Promise of Citizenship: Extending the Vote to Nonincarcerated Felons." Pages 61-68 in Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice Policy: Policy Proposals From the American Society of Criminology Conference, edited by Natasha A. Frost, Joshua D. Freilich, and Todd R. Clear. Belmont, CA: Cengage/Wadsworth. [pdf] [Marc Mauer response]

book

Jeff Manza and Christopher Uggen. 2006. Locked Out: Felon Disenfranchisement and American Democracy. New York: Oxford University Press. Paperback edition (2008) Choice Outstanding Academic Title (2006) Finalist, C. Wright Mills Award (2006)

project maps (prepared by Rebecca Colwell)

• felon voting restrictions by state, 2004

 

project articles

• Christopher Uggen, Jeff Manza, and Melissa Thompson, 2006. “Citizenship, Democracy, and the Civic Reintegration of Criminal Offenders.” The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 605: 281-310. [pdf] [copyright]
  
  
• Christopher Uggen, Angela Behrens, and Jeff Manza. 2005. “Criminal Disenfranchisement.” Annual Review of Law and Social Science 1: 307-322.[pdf] [copyright]
  
  
• Christopher Uggen and Jeff Manza. 2004. “Voting and Subsequent Crime and Arrest: Evidence from a Community Sample.” Columbia Human Rights Law Review 36:193-215. [pdf] [copyright]
  
  
• Jeff Manza and Christopher Uggen. 2004. “Punishment and Democracy: The Disenfranchisement of Nonincarcerated Felons in the United States.” Perspectives on Politics 2:491-505. [pdf] [copyright]
  
  

• Jeff Manza, Clem Brooks, and Christopher Uggen. 2004. “Public Attitudes Toward Felon Disenfranchisement in the United States.” Public Opinion Quarterly 68:276-87. [abstract] [pdf] [copyright]
  
  
• Angela Behrens, Christopher Uggen, and Jeff Manza. 2003. “Ballot Manipulation and the ‘Menace of Negro Domination’: Racial Threat and Felon Disenfranchisement in the United States, 1850-2002.” American Journal of Sociology 109:559-605. [abstract] [pdf] [copyright]

Reprinted 2006 in Crime and Criminal Justice: International Library of Essays in Law & Society, edited by William T. Lyons, Jr. Aldershot, UK: Ashgate Publishing

• Christopher Uggen, Jeff Manza, and Angela Behrens. 2003. “Felon Voting Rights and the Disenfranchisement of African Americans.” Souls: A Critical Journal of Black Politics, Culture, and Society 5:47-55. [pdf] [copyright]
  
  
• Christopher Uggen and Jeff Manza. 2002. "Democratic Contraction? The Political Consequences of Felon Disenfranchisement in the United States." American Sociological Review 67:777-803.[abstract] [pdf] [ASA] [NYT] [copyright]

  Reprinted 2006 in Crime, Inequality, and the State, edited by Mary E. Vogel (New York: Routledge). Excerpted 2004, pp. 264-65 in Sociology (“Prisoners and Presidents”) by David M. Newman. Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press; Excerpted 2003 in American Sociological Association’s Footnotes (“Sociology News for the Dinner Table”) 31:8; Excerpted 2003 in Contexts (“Discoveries”) 2:6.

  
  

project book chapters

• Christopher Uggen and Michelle Inderbitzin. 2010. "The Price and the Promise of Citizenship: Extending the Vote to Nonincarcerated Felons." Pages 61-68 in Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice Policy: Policy Proposals From the American Society of Criminology Conference, edited by Natasha A. Frost, Joshua D. Freilich, and Todd R. Clear. Belmont, CA: Cengage/Wadsworth.
  

• Christopher Uggen, Mischelle Van Brakle, and Heather McLaughlin. 2009. “Punishment and Social Exclusion: National Differences in Prisoner Disenfranchisement.” Pages 59-78 in Criminal Disenfranchisement in an International Perspective, edited by Alec Ewald and Brandon Rottinghaus. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. [pdf] [copyright]
  

• Michelle Inderbitzin, Kelly Fawcett, Christopher Uggen, and Kristin A. Bates. 2007. "'Revolutions May Go Backwards': The Persistence of Voter Disenfranchisement in the United States." Pages 37-53 in Through the Eye of Katrina: Social Justice in the United States, edited by Kristin A. Bates and Richelle S. Swan. Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press.
  
  
• Angela Behrens, Christopher Uggen, and Jeff Manza. 2006. “Felon Disenfranchisement." Forthcoming in Encyclopedia of American Civil Liberties. New York: Routledge.
  
  
• Christopher Uggen and Jeff Manza. 2005. “Disenfranchisement and the Civic Reintegration of Convicted Felons.” Pages 67-84 in Civil Penalties, Social Consequences, edited by Christopher Mele and Teresa Miller. New York: Routledge. [pdf] [copyright]
  
  
• Christopher Uggen and Jeff Manza. 2004. “Lost Voices: The Civic and Political Views of Disfranchised Felons.” Pages 165-204 in Imprisoning America: The Social Effects of Mass Incarceration, edited by Mary Pattillo, David Weiman, and Bruce Western. New York: Russell Sage Foundation. [pdf] [copyright]
  
  
• Christopher Uggen, Jeff Manza, and Angela Behrens. 2004. “Less than the Average Citizen: Stigma, Role Transition, and the Civic Reintegration of Convicted Felons.” Pages 258-290 in After Crime and Punishment: Pathways to Offender Reintegration, edited by Shadd Maruna and Russ Immarigeon. Cullompton, Devon, UK: Willan Publishing. [abstract] [pdf] [copyright]

project commentary

• Jeff Manza and Christopher Uggen. 2004. “The President Is Right: Ex-Felons Need Aid.” Newsday, February 5, p. A33, Op-Ed section.
  
  
• Christopher Uggen and Jeff Manza. 2003. “They've Paid Their Debt; Let Them Vote.” Los Angeles Times, July 18, p. B15, Op-Ed section.

project work in progress

(Please email uggen001@umn.edu for reprints or "preprints" of other work in progress)

related work on civic participation and collateral consequences

• Christopher Uggen and Mike Vuolo. 2006. “Getting the Truth about Consequences.” Amici: Newsletter of the Sociology of Law Section of the American Sociological Association 13:6-8.
  
  
• Christopher Uggen. 2005. “Editorial Comment.” Guest editor for special issue on Collateral Consequences of Criminal Sanctions. Forthcoming in Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice.
  
  
• Christopher Uggen and Jennifer Janikula. 1999. "Volunteerism and Arrest in the Transition to Adulthood." Social Forces 78:331-62. [abstract] [pdf]

press releases

• University of Minnesota. 2006. "Felon Disenfranchisement."
  
  
• American Political Science Association. 2004. "Disenfranchised Voters."
  
  
• American Sociological Association. 2004. "New York Times Year in Ideas."
  
  
• American Sociological Association. 2003. "If Felons Could Have Voted, National Election Outcomes Would Have Been Different."

media discussion of project

Fox News, October 20, 2008, felon voting
New York Times Online - Freakonomics, October 16, 2008, modern outlaws
Minnesota Public Radio, October 1, 2008, felon voting
New York Times, September 14, 2008, felon disenfranchisement
The Nation, August 27, 2007, research cited
Footnotes, July/August, 2007, Contexts
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, June 2, 2007, research cited
Wall Street Journal, May 4, 2007, Florida disenfranchisement
Slate, April 27, 2007, research cited
ZNet, April 21, 2007, research cited
New York Review of Books, April 12, 2007, Locked Out
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, April 7, 2007, Florida disenfranchisement
Palm Beach Post, April 7, 2007, Florida disenfranchisement
Salon, April 6, 2007, felon disenfranchisement
Wall Street Journal, May 4, 2007, Florida disenfranchisement
Slate, April 27, 2007, research cited
ZNet, April 21, 2007, research cited
New York Review of Books, April 12, 2007, Locked Out
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, April 7, 2007, Florida disenfranchisement
Palm Beach Post, April 7, 2007, Florida disenfranchisement
Salon, April 6, 2007, felon disenfranchisement
ZNet, March 4, 2007, research cited
Baltimore Sun, October 17, 2006, felon disenfranchisement
KSTP TV (Minneapolis), October 5, 2006, false reporting
Wall Street Journal, September 2, 2006, felon disenfranchisement
WWOW radio (Cleveland), July 2, 2006, Louie Free, Locked Out
WBAL radio (Baltimore), June 13, 2006, Dan Rodricks, Locked Out
KVON radio (San Francisco), June 5, 2006, Jeff Schectman, Locked Out
WIP-AM radio (Philadelphia), June 4, 2006, Peter Solomon, Locked Out
KAHL radio (San Antonio), June 2, 2006, Ron Thulin, Locked Out
USA Today, June 1, 2006, felon disenfranchisement
WLW-AM radio (Cincinatti), June 1, 2006, Mike McConnell, Locked Out
KOLE radio (Houston), May 31, 2006, Dan Gresham, Locked Out
KMED radio (Medford, OR), May 30, 2006, Bill Meyer, Locked Out
WJR radio (Detroit), May 29, 2006, Frank Beckman Show, Locked Out
KCMN radio (Colorado Springs), May 25, 2006 Tron in the Morning, Locked Out
WIOJ radio (Jacksonville), May 22, 2006, Ed Furbee, Locked Out
WGTD radio (Milwaukee), May 19, 2006, Morning Show, Locked Out
American Urban Radio (Kelsey Hill), May 16, 2006, Locked Out
USA Network/Daybreak (Al Lerner), May 8, 2006, Locked Out
Al Franken Show (Air America radio), April 4, 2006, felon voting
The New Standard, March 31, 2006, felon “poll tax”
WCCO radio (Minneapolis, MN), March 7, 2006, with Jeff McKinney
KPFT radio (Houston, TX), Sunday Monitor with Pokey Anderson, March 5, 2006
Lexington Herald-Leader, February 17, 2006, ex-felon job fairs
Baltimore Sun, February 16, 2006, voting research cited in op-ed
Buffalo News, November 6, 2005, felon voting
St. Petersberg Times, November 15, 2005, Johnson v. Bush case
Lexington Herald-Leader, November 3, 2005
Baltimore Sun, October 17, 2006, felon disenfranchisement
KSTP TV (Minneapolis), October 5, 2006, false reporting
Wall Street Journal, September 2, 2006, felon disenfranchisement
WWOW radio (Cleveland), July 2, 2006, Louie Free, Locked Out
WBAL radio (Baltimore), June 13, 2006, Dan Rodricks, Locked Out
KVON radio (San Francisco), June 5, 2006, Jeff Schectman, Locked Out
WIP-AM radio (Philadelphia), June 4, 2006, Peter Solomon, Locked Out
KAHL radio (San Antonio), June 2, 2006, Ron Thulin, Locked Out
USA Today, June 1, 2006, felon disenfranchisement
WLW-AM radio (Cincinatti), June 1, 2006, Mike McConnell, Locked Out
KOLE radio (Houston), May 31, 2006, Dan Gresham, Locked Out
KMED radio (Medford, OR), May 30, 2006, Bill Meyer, Locked Out
WJR radio (Detroit), May 29, 2006, Frank Beckman Show, Locked Out
KCMN radio (Colorado Springs), May 25, 2006 Tron in the Morning, Locked Out
WIOJ radio (Jacksonville), May 22, 2006, Ed Furbee, Locked Out
WGTD radio (Milwaukee), May 19, 2006, Morning Show, Locked Out
American Urban Radio (Kelsey Hill), May 16, 2006, Locked Out
USA Network/Daybreak (Al Lerner), May 8, 2006, Locked Out
Al Franken Show (Air America radio), April 4, 2006, felon voting
The New Standard, March 31, 2006, felon “poll tax”
WCCO radio (Minneapolis, MN), March 7, 2006, with Jeff McKinney
KPFT radio (Houston, TX), Sunday Monitor with Pokey Anderson, March 5, 2006
Lexington Herald-Leader, February 17, 2006, ex-felon job fairs
Baltimore Sun, February 16, 2006, voting research cited in op-ed
St. Petersberg Times, November 15, 2005, Johnson v. Bush case
Buffalo News, November 6, 2005, felon voting
Lexington Herald-Leader, November 3, 2005
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 24, 2005, ex-felon employment
The Economist, July 9, 2005, Iowa ex-felons
Des Moines Register, June 29, 2005, felon voting
Waterloo Cedar-Falls Courier, June 22, 2005
Virginian-Pilot, May 6, 2005, voting research cited in op-ed
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, April 21, 2005
U.S. Newswire, March 10, 2005, Iowa felon voting
Washington Times, March 8, 2005
Wall Street Journal, March 7, 2005
Associated Press, March 2, 2005, interview with Malia Rulon
Newsweek, October 11, 2004, interview with Sarah Childress
National Public Radio, Day to Day, October 5, 2004, interview with Kathy Witkowsky
KDXU radio (St. George, UT), The Donovan Report, September 22, 2004
WNWS radio (Jackson, TN), FYI, September 21, 2004, interview and callers
New York Times, September 17, 2004, interview for Brent Staples op-ed
Sacramento Bee, September 12, 2004, felon voting
For the People (syndicated talk radio), September 7, 2004
KMOX radio (St. Louis), August 30, 2004 [scheduled]
KGET radio (Bakersfield, CA), August 27, 2004 [scheduled]
Al Franken Show (syndicated talk radio), August 26, 2004, felon voting [scheduled]
South Florida Sun Sentinel, August 25, 2004, race and felon voting
The Wire, 2SER-FM Radio (Sydney, Australia), August 23, 2004, felon voting
The Bev Smith Show (syndicated talk radio), August 23, 2004, interview and callers
WWNN Radio (Florida), Steve Kane Show, August 19, 2004, interview and callers
Make it Plain, XM-169 Radio, August 12, 2004, race and felon voting
Wall Street Journal August 12, 2004, ex-felons and election
In These Times August 10, 2004, former felons and election
Making Contact (syndicated radio), August 4, 2004, election
Omaha World Herald, July 24, 2004, felon voting - Iowa
Ohio Public Radio, July 23, 2004, felon voting - Ohio
Chicago Tribune (Knight-Ridder), July 20, 2004, felon voting - Florida
WMNF Radio (Tampa), July 15-16 2004, felon voting - Florida
Black Entertainment Television (BET.com), July 7, 2004, race and felon voting
Minnesota Public Radio (Morning Edition), July 7, 2004, felon reenfranchisement
Irvine Progressive, June 2004, felon voting
Harvard Political Review, May 4, 2004, felon voting
National Post (Canada), May 2004, Felon voting
Austin American-Statesman, April 26, 2004, felon voting
Ithaca Times, April 15, 2004, felon voting
New York Times, March 28, 2004, felon voting - Florida
San Francisco Chronicle, February 28, 2004, felon voting
Newsday, February 5, 2004, p. A33 (Manza/Uggen Op-Ed), reentry
Foxnews.com, February 2, 2004, felon voting
Minnesota Public Radio, January 21, 2004, prisoner reentry National Review Online, January 8, 2004, felon voting
New York Times Magazine,December 13, 2003,"ideas" issue
The American Prospect, December, 2003, employment and crime
Pravda, December 4, 2003, felon voting
The Nation, November 24, 2003, Rebecca Perl interview
American Radio Works Whose Vote Counts? (National Public Radio affiliates), November 4, 2003
Ruth Koscielak Show (Minneapolis and affiliates), October 16, 2003
Christian Science Monitor, September 25, 2003, Alexandra Marks interview
Taiwan News, September 20, 2004
Palm Beach Post, August 19, 2003, felon voting
Reason Online, July 25, 2003, felon voting
Washington Times, July 23, 2003, felon voting
Frontpage Magazine, July 18, 2003, felon voting
Los Angeles Times, July 18, 2003, p. B15 (Uggen/Manza Op-Ed): ex-felon voting
Minnesota, March-April 2003, felon voting
KCSN Radio (Los Angeles), February 20, 2003, felon voting
Footnotes (American Sociological Association), February 2003, felon voting
Minnesota Public Radio (Morning Edition), January 8, 2003, felon voting
WCCO Radio (Minneapolis), January 8, 2003, felon voting
Brisbane Courier-Mail (Australia), December 30, 2002, incarceration
New York Times, December 29, 2002, ex-felons
The Economist, August 10, 2002, ex-felons
The Washington Times, July 14, 2002, felon voting
National Review Online, May 2, 2002, felon voting
Time, January 21, 2002, felon voting
KMSP-TV News (Minneapolis), December 30, 2001, crime rates
Minnesota Public Radio, November 16, 2001, felon voting
Rolling Stone, August 20, 2001, felon voting
KUOW (Seattle)/National Public Radio, May 16, 2001, prison training
New York Times, May 15, 2001, felon voting
National Public Radio (All Things Considered), February 7, 2001, reentry
The Independent, January 14, 2001, Noam Chomsky on 2000 election
Washington Monthly, January/February 2001, felon voting
The Village Voice, December 6-12 2000, 2000 election
ABC-TV News, November 5, 2000, felon voting
New York Times, November 3, 2000, Felon voting
National Post (Canada), October 2, 2000, Felon voting
Mother Jones Online, October 16, 2000, Felon voting
National Law Journal, October 24, 2000, Felon voting
KSTP-TV News (Minneapolis), June, 2000, employment and crime
Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service, May 8, 2000: Crime rates
KTCA-TV Almanac (St. Paul), July 9, 1999, crime statistics Minneapolis Star-Tribune, June 5, 2005; June 13, 2004; April 1, 2004; October 15, 2003; May 30, 2001; May 8, 2000, September 17, 1998; November 15, 1995
KTCA-TV Newsnight (St. Paul), several appearances, crime rates
St. Paul Pioneer Press, April 18, 2004; March 28, 2004; January 21, 2004; January 4, 2004; January 9, 2003; January 3, 2003; November 6, 2002; October 30, 2002; April 17, 2002; February 12, 2002; December 30, 2001; December 18, 2001; July 15, 2001; May 30, 2001; April 23, 2001; December 19, 2000, May 17, 1998

support for the project

National Science Foundation Grant No. 981905

1999-2002. "Political Consequences of Felon Disenfranchisement." We examine the scope, consequences and origins of laws prohibiting convicted felons from voting in the U.S. [abstract]

Graduate Research Assistants: Melissa Thompson and Sara Wakefield Law Student Research Assistant: Angie Behrens (profile)

Soros Foundation Open Society Institute Individual Project Fellowship 2000-2002. [abstract] 

 

links to other felon voting resources

Sentencing Project (many links and publications)

Advancement Project

Re-enfranchisement! A Guide for Individual Restoration of Voting Rights (Taifa 2002)

America’s Modern Poll Tax (Donziger 2001)

Brennan Center for Justice

Johnson v. Bush links

Minneapolis Foundation

Criminal Disenfranchisement in Minnesota (2002)

Prison Policy Initiative

Importing Constituents: Prisoners and Political Clout (Wagner 2002)

Other Felon Disenfranchisement Links and Resources

Demos

Punishing at the Polls

 
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