Free. Live via Zoom webinar.

About 470,000 Americans detained in city and county jails nationwide have a constitutional right to vote by mail. Coronavirus restrictions inside of jails could mean large-scale voter disenfranchisement in the 2020 presidential election. Our guests will explore voting rights for incarcerated people and how the COVID-19 pandemic could impact their access to the electoral process.

Eli Hager is a staff writer for The Marshall Project covering juvenile justice, family court, fines and fees, and other issues. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, This American Life, and elsewhere.

Dana Paikowsky is a legal fellow at Campaign Legal Center. Her work focuses on jail-based disenfranchisement, using litigation and advocacy to ensure the inability to pay bail does not deprive eligible voters of their right to vote. She received her J.D. from Harvard Law School.

This event is part of Eastern State's ongoing Searchlight Series of events addressing issues in contemporary corrections. The Searchlight Series discussions typically take place the first Tuesday of every month, free and open to the public. No reservations required. During our temporary closure due to COVID-19, The Searchlight Series discussions will take place weekly via Zoom webinar every Tuesday evening.