| 1. An estimated 6.1 million people in the United States (2.5% of the nation's voting age population, excluding DC) cannot vote due to a felony conviction. |
| 2. In 1792 Kentucky became the first US state to ban convicted criminals from voting. |
| 3. There are 9 states (AL, AZ, DE, FL, IA, KY, MS, TN, WY) where some felons may be permanently barred from voting, even after release, probation, parole, and fines. |
| 4. Florida has the highest percentage of disenfranchised voters (10.43%) of any state. Mississippi came in second at 9.63%, and Kentucky ranked third at 9.14%, according to a 2016 report. |
| 5. In 2012 US jails and prisons housed 2,255,997 people - more than the entire populations of Alaska, North Dakota, and Vermont combined. |
| 6. Maine and Vermont are the only two states where felons are permitted to vote while in prison. |
| 7. In Canada, and at least 20 other countries, convicted felons have no voting restrictions and can vote while incarcerated. |
| 8. In 1882 the US Congress passed the Edmunds Act banning convicted polygamists from voting or holding political office. |
| 9. For a convicted felon to vote in Mississippi, his or her state representative must personally author a bill reenfranchising that individual. Both houses of the legislature must then pass the bill. Re-enfranchisement can also be granted directly by the governor. |
| 10. The percentage of state and federal prisoners incarcerated for a drug offense peaked in 1997 at 26.9% (1 in 4 inmates) up from 10.4% (1 in 10) in 1974. As of 2012, 20.5% of all state and federal prisoners were in for a drug related offense. |
| 11. In 2002, the US Senate voted 63-31 against legislation that would have restored voting rights to ex-felons voting in federal elections. |
| 12. In 2013 white people made up 63.7% of the US population and 33.3% of the prison population. Black people made up 12.6% of the US population and 36.2% of the prison population. |
| 13. In 2004, the Alabama Republican Party Chair stated that the party was "opposed to [restoring voting rights] because felons don't tend to vote Republican." |
| 14. The number of people incarcerated in US jails and prisons grew from 501,866 in 1980 (182,288 in jail + 319,598 in prison) to 2,305,900 in 2013 (731,200 in jail + 1,574,700 in prison) - a 359.5% increase during a period when the US population increased by 39.7%. |
