As recent wildfires in North Carolina add to the deadly storms that recently tore across the South and parts of the Midwest with tornadoes and heavy winds, killing 40 people and leaving devastation in their wake, it feels appropriate to compare them to the storms and fires that rage on in the lives of those who have served their time and left prison walls behind, only to find themselves trapped in a different kind of storm.
This is the storm of voting rights restoration, a storm that has been battering families and individuals long after they have paid their debt to society. The recent U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decision upheld lifetime felony disenfranchisement, reinforcing systemic barriers to full democratic participation.
Meanwhile, in Virginia, a patchwork of policies across different administrations has created uncertainty for those seeking their rights restored. In Florida, a new database aims to streamline the process, but thousands remain in limbo.
For those who were formerly incarcerated, all of their individual preparedness, everything they have done and the progress they have made, their storm never ends—their storm seeks to kill them.
Every day, I witness the impact of this storm. As the founder of the RECH Foundation, I work with men and women who, despite fulfilling every condition set before them by the justice system, are still denied full participation in democracy.
They walk free but remain shackled by laws and policies that treat them as if they are forever unworthy of having a say in their own futures. They have endured the storms inside—prison conditions, separation from family, and the fight to survive behind bars—only to step into another unrelenting storm where they are told they are still not free.
This storm does not just impact individuals; it devastates families and entire communities. Children of formerly incarcerated parents grow up watching their mothers and fathers struggle to regain a foothold in society. They learn early on that no matter how much someone reforms, society is not always willing to offer redemption. They see the exhaustion, the frustration, the despair—another generation absorbing the silent message that their voice, too, might one day be stripped away.
Some states have taken steps toward restoring voting rights, but in places like Mississippi, where I work, the storm rages on. The laws remain some of the most restrictive in the nation, keeping thousands disenfranchised. Mississippi permanently strips voting rights from people with certain felony convictions, requiring an individualized clemency process that few successfully navigate. As a result, nearly 16% of Black adults in Mississippi are unable to vote due to these policies.
Restoring voting rights is not about politics—it is about humanity. It is about recognizing that no one should be permanently cast out of the democratic process. It is about ensuring that those who have paid their debt to society are given the chance to contribute, to have their say, and to shape the policies that affect their lives and the lives of their families. Research has shown that voting rights restoration is linked to lower recidivism rates and increased civic engagement. Studies, such as this one, confirm that when individuals regain their rights, they are more likely to reintegrate successfully into society. Another study from the University of Kentucky highlights the economic and social benefits of re-enfranchisement, while research from Cambridge University Press traces the historical roots of these laws to racial discrimination.
The storms of nature may be out of a person’s control, but the storm of injustice is one people can stop.
Lawmakers need to pass meaningful rights restoration policies. Communities can learn about the realities of disenfranchisement. It is necessary to demand that when a person serves their time, their full citizenship is returned to them, without conditions, without endless barriers, without lifelong punishment.
With the 2026 midterm elections on the horizon, the time is now to restore voting rights and bring justice to those who have already weathered enough.