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| Juvenile offenders cast votes in mock election |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 10/18/2004 |
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With a swish of the curtain and the crank of a lever, 19-year-old Raymond Barnes cast his vote for Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry last Thursday inside a voting booth at a prison for young offenders in Connecticut. "Bush isn't really living up to doing what he was saying," Barnes said. "Kerry keeps saying he's going to have a plan. I want to see if he does." Barnes was one of about 130 juvenile offenders jailed at Manson Youth Institution who participated in a mock election. One by one, the young men in tan jumpsuits lined up to take their turn at pulling the lever. The election, which Kerry won 93 to 40, wrapped up an 11-week educational program on the political process that organizers hope will encourage the men to vote when they leave prison. The program taught about the history of the political parties, how to register to vote, and their rights under state voting laws. Inmates also analyzed the issues, debating about the economy, abortion rights, and the war in Iraq. Prison officials tried to make the mock election realistic. Inmates had to fill out a form and register to vote at least 14 days before Election Day, in accordance with state law. They checked in with clerks at their polling place, then proceeded to real lever-style voting machines, on loan from Southington. Organizers hope the program encourages the prisoners, who are between 14 and 20 years old, to register once they have served their time. Lawmakers changed state voting laws in 2001 to permit those convicted of felonies and sentenced to probation to register to vote, and to clarify that convicted felons who are sentenced to prison and parole can restore their rights after leaving. |
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