The right to know

Commentary by Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig

British philosopher Francis Bacon once said, “For also knowledge itself is power.”
   The statement — often paraphrased as “knowledge is power” — suggests that with knowledge or education, a person’s potential or abilities in life can increase.
    In less than four weeks, voters across the country will go to the polls to cast their vote for president of the United States. In California and closer to home, there also are local and state candidates, ballot measures and propositions for voters to consider.
    Many of us — especially those of African descent and others of color — are prepared to participate in a freedom granted under the 15th Amendment. Unfortunately, thousands of California residents don’t have the knowledge that they do have the right to vote.
    For centuries, long before the days of Jim Crow — a period when laws were enacted, beginning in the late 1800s, to continue to segregate people of color — there was a widespread belief that once a person was incarcerated, they no longer deserved the right to vote. Most states, including this one, still place restrictions on people convicted of a felony offense for at least some period of time.
    But what is that period of time?
    Many believe that once the label of felon is placed on them, they can forget about having a say in who is to lead our country — the country they live in and more often than not, work in and pay taxes to. They are told that once they are shipped off to prison, they can’t vote.
    It’s true … while in prison, they can’t vote. But once they gain their freedom, there are thousands who regain their voting rights and don’t even know it. In the state of California, if a person is on probation — not parole — or in jail — not prison — they still have the right to vote.
    Let me say that again: A felon who is not incarcerated in one of our state’s prison facilities and not on parole come Nov. 4, and is registered to vote, can vote.
    And according to a newly released report from the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, improper information, or the lack thereof, given to those who have served time is a from of felony disenfranchisement and one of the single greatest factors excluding people of color from the political process.
   “Research conducted by the ACLU of Northern California from 2005 to 2008 revealed that individuals with felony convictions and relevant government agencies did not have accurate information about the limitations of California’s felony disenfranchisement law,” writes report author and ACLU-NC executive director Maya Harris in her introduction. “… We learned that probation officers, sheriffs and local elections officials incorrectly believed that individuals cannot vote ever again if they have a felony conviction; cannot vote unless they have their conviction expunged; and/or cannot vote while on probation.”
    What?! Now I consider myself to be a highly educated lady, but I always thought a felony record prohibits one from ever voting again.
    Now some may say once a felon always a felon. And whether those in prison can vote or not is for another discussion. But unless a person is convicted of voter fraud, what gives anyone the right to permanently take away someone else’s voice in the electoral process? And more importantly, who has the right to keep this information from — or at least to not disseminate it to — all those that it affects?
    In a time when every vote really counts, it is important for us all to have the knowledge of voting rights.
    Who knows … the future of our country may depend upon it. And maybe making sure that people know they have the right to vote will give them the knowledge needed to help increase their potential or ability in life.
    For more information or to view the full report, visit www.aclunc.org.

Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig is an award-winning, professional journalist who resides in Oakland. If you have an individual, organization, issue or other topic that may be of interest to the Globe’s readers, contact her at  talk2mfc@yahoo.com.