Midterm Election: You still have a voice behind bars

MARYLAND – Some people serving time behind bars are still allowed to vote.

That is individuals that are in pretrial along with those serving time for misdemeanors. This comes after House bill 222 was passed. The organization, Maryland Justice Project has been traveling to all 24 jurisdictions to ensure inmates have what they need to make their voices heard, along with having access to vote ahead of the midterm elections. However there is some resistance, so the organization is calling on legislators to make a difference.

“We are trying to massage that relationship if you will so that we can make sure that the people who are in charge of these institutions are following the letter of the law. Some folks don’t want to meet with us, and they try to shut us down but we do have some resistance. Hopefully, Maryland’s legislative body will support us in our efforts to ensure that now that that law is passed that we need to ensure that all 24 jurisdictions are following the law,” says Monica Cooper, Founder and Executive Director of the MD Justice Project.

Cooper says with the climate of this country it’s important that everyone makes their voices heard even if they are behind bars.