By Ariel White for the Washington Post:

The disenfranchisement of felons has been a hotly debated subject recently, in part because such states as Florida and Louisiana have made it easier for people with criminal convictions to vote after they finish their sentences.

Felon disenfranchisement remains important. But the effects of the criminal justice system on voting patterns go well beyond laws that literally strip people of their voting rights. According to research I recently conducted, even a misdemeanor charge leading to a short jail sentence — often of only a few days or weeks — can lead to a significant decrease in the likelihood of future voting. The effects are heavily concentrated among black voters.

Read full article at the Washington Post.