RI Ex-Prisoners Freed to Vote

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By the narrowest of margins, Rhode Islanders approved an amendment to the state constitution giving back the right to vote to prisoners who have completed their sentences. Rhode Island doesn’t have a massive share of the over two million convicts held in American lockups, but it’s still a potentially significant move that will hopefully set an example for the many other states that strip the franchise from former felons. Such laws may well have tipped the 2000 election in Bush’s favor, as MJ.com reported the day after the polls closed that year.

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PLEASE—BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things it doesn’t like—which is most things that are true.

We’ll say it loud and clear: At Mother Jones, no one gets to tell us what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please do your part and help us reach our $150,000 membership goal by May 31.

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