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Rules Committee backs resolution supporting ACA 6 to restore voting rights to people on parole
Summary
The committee voted unanimously to send a resolution to the full board supporting ACA 6, which would allow automatic restoration of voting rights to people on parole upon completion of a prison term; returning citizens and advocates provided extensive testimony.
The San Francisco Rules Committee on July 22 voted unanimously to forward a resolution supporting Assembly Constitutional Amendment 6 (ACA 6), which would restore voting rights automatically to people on parole upon completion of a state or federal prison term if enacted by the Legislature.
Sponsor Supervisor Matt Haney framed ACA 6 as the "Free the Vote Act," saying it would align California with other jurisdictions that restore voting rights and that roughly 50,000 Californians are currently unable to vote because of felony disenfranchisement. He introduced advocates and experts who provided policy context and personal testimony.
Dorsey Nunn of Legal Services for Prisoners with Children said the issue is about civic recognition: "If I don't have the right to vote, I don't know if I'm a citizen," he told the committee. Darris Cyprian, a policy manager with Legal Services for Prisoners with Children and a person currently on parole, described felony disenfranchisement as a form of voter suppression and urged the committee to act. Brandon Woods, Alameda County public defender, cited academic literature and argued that civic participation can reduce recidivism.
A broad group of returning citizens and community organizations — including All of Us or None, Anti-Recidivism Coalition and the California Coalition for Women Prisoners — offered personal testimony and urged the committee to support the resolution. Speakers recounted long parole terms, family hardship and barriers to reentry, and urged that formerly incarcerated residents be allowed to participate in elections.
Chair Ronan accepted small technical amendments submitted by Supervisor Haney. The committee then moved to accept the amendments and to forward the resolution with a positive recommendation to the full Board of Supervisors; the motion passed "without objection." The resolution will be part of the city's formal public record supporting ACA 6 and will be transmitted as a committee report.
