In Ohio those convicted of felonies cannot vote while incarcerated. But they can vote after being released or while on probation or parole. The law says that anyone convicted of a crime is to be removed from the voter rolls, even though those on parole or probation can exercise their right to vote. These laws also have a disproportionate impact on Blacks and other oppressed nationalities. In Ohio, nearly 49 percent of the prison population is Black, compared to 11.5 percent of the state’s population.

The groups filing the lawsuit had testers posing as convicts contact the 88 counties in the state to see what election offices would say about the right of those on parole or probation to vote. In election offices in 21 counties, the testers were told that felons couldn’t vote until after their probation or parole ended.

In court papers, election officials denied any wrongdoing, but they agreed to send the letters informing those on parole or probation of their right to vote. David Singleton, an attorney with the Prison Reform Advocacy Center who filed the lawsuit, told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that the settlement which was reached was important, allowing those who want to vote to meet the October 4 deadline to register.  
 
 
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