Web produced by: Annette Peagler
In time for this historic election, the Cincinnati-based Ohio Justice and Policy Center (OJPC) is giving some fortunate youth the right to vote.
They will register 400 young adults serving time in juvenile correctional facilities throughout Ohio.
These individuals, all of whom are 18, or will be by the election, are eligible to vote with an absentee ballot.
In Ohio, youngsters who are being held in the juvenile justice system, are not considered to have been convicted of a crime, even if the crimes they committed would constitute felonies if they were adults.
Therefore, these individuals are eligible to vote, provided they meet the age requirement.
"These youth are often a forgotten group," says Angelina Jackson, Director of OJPC's Race & Justice Project. "To our knowledge, this is the first time that an outside organization has organized a voter registration drive inside Ohio's juvenile correctional facilities," Jackson added.
OJPC will register youth at the following facilities: Ohio River Valley (Scioto County), Circleville (Pickaway County), Scioto (Delaware County), Indian River (Stark County), Mohican (Ashland County) and Marion (Marion County).
