Justice Assistance and RI Freedom Collective to Offer “Know Your Rights: Your Voice, Your Vote” with RI Department of State
For Immediate Release Contact: Keith Whitt
March 30, 2026 Marketing & Development Officer
(401) 781-7000 Office
kwhitt@justiceassistance.org
(Providence, RI) - On Tuesday, March 31, from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM, Justice Assistance, the Rhode Island Freedom Collective, and the Rhode Island Department of State will host “Know Your Rights: Your Voice, Your Vote,” a voting rights education session for justice-impacted Rhode Islanders. The event is designed to restore voice, build civic confidence, and provide clear and accurate information about voting in Rhode Island.
Hosted by Justice Assistance, “Know Your Rights: Your Voice, Your Vote” will bring together directly impacted leaders from the Rhode Island Freedom Collective and representatives from the Rhode Island Department of State to provide practical voting rights education for justice-impacted Rhode Islanders. The session will offer clear, accessible guidance on voter eligibility, registration, and the voting process in Rhode Island. It is intended to address the misinformation and fear that too often keep eligible individuals from fully participating in civic life.
For Justice Assistance, this training reflects a broader commitment to ensuring that reentry includes full access to civic life. Jake Bissaillon, Chief Executive Officer of Justice Assistance, noted, “At Justice Assistance, we understand that reentry is about more than meeting basic needs it is also about restoring a person’s sense of agency, voice, and connection to community. Too many justice-impacted Rhode Islanders remain uncertain about their voting rights, even after returning home. We are proud to host this training because ensuring people have clear, accurate information is an important part of helping them participate fully in civic life and make their voices heard.”
Rhode Island stands apart nationally as a state that restores voting rights immediately upon release from incarceration. Since the passage of the Rhode Island Restoration of Voting Rights Act and the 2006 constitutional amendment, voting rights are automatically restored upon release, with no waiting period, no additional application, and no restriction based on probation or parole status. Yet, even after more than 17,000 individuals regained their rights, only a fraction registered or participated in early elections following the law’s passage. This local gap between rights and reality reflects a broader national crisis. Across the United States, an estimated 4 million people are currently unable to vote due to felony disenfranchisement laws, representing about 1 in every 59 voting age citizens.
Kyle Campbell, Co-Founder of the Rhode Island Freedom Collective, emphasized the importance of reclaiming civic identity after incarceration. “Growing up in a household that voted, I always knew the importance of localized voting, even when I felt it did not matter. Throughout the duration of my incarceration, I advocated for us to vote. Although we were not permitted to, I felt the best way to express our citizenry was to voice our concerns through our families and organizations willing to advocate for our needs. I am grateful to carry on that work being a voice for individuals inside, that rightly deserve representation.”
Campbell’s reflection underscores the deeper challenge this training is designed to address: although Rhode Island law restores voting rights immediately upon release from incarceration, confusion and misinformation still prevent many eligible individuals from fully participating in civic life. For that reason, clear public education and trusted institutional support remain essential to closing the gap between legal rights and meaningful access to the ballot. “Know Your Rights: Your Voice, Your Vote” will provide participants with clear, accessible guidance on voter eligibility, registration, and the voting process itself. In that effort, the Rhode Island Department of State serves as a key partner in ensuring eligible voters have the information they need to participate with confidence.
“The right to vote is one of our most powerful rights as American citizens,” said Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore. “At the RI Department of State, we work each day to ensure every eligible voter has the information they need to cast their ballot, and this partnership with Justice Assistance and the Rhode Island Freedom Collective will empower individuals who have regained their right to vote to exercise that right.”
Ultimately, “Know Your Rights: Your Voice, Your Vote” is about more than voting; it is about belonging, participation, and ensuring that directly impacted Rhode Islanders have the knowledge and confidence to take part fully in civic life. As the Rhode Island Freedom Collective continues to build a movement rooted in lived experience, advocacy, and civic engagement, this training represents an important step toward closing the gap between formal rights and real access, both in Rhode Island and beyond.
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RI Freedom Collective:
The Rhode Island Freedom Collective is a grassroots organization led by formerly incarcerated individuals dedicated to advancing justice reform, expanding civic engagement, and dismantling barriers to reentry. Through advocacy, leadership development, and community-based programming, the Collective works to ensure that directly impacted people are at the forefront of systemic change.
Justice Assistance:
Founded in 1978, Justice Assistance provides wraparound services for justice-involved individuals across Rhode Island, including court-based case management, reentry support, affordable housing, and integrated behavioral and primary healthcare. Over the past 18 months, the organization has launched JA Health & Wellness, an integrated primary and behavioral health clinic in Cranston, and expanded its Habitat for Justice program to include more than 30 units of affordable housing. Together, these efforts reflect Justice Assistance’s mission to promote dignity, restore opportunity, and build pathways to stability for Rhode Islanders.
RI Department of State:
The Department of State serves Rhode Islanders by promoting transparent government, supporting businesses, and strengthening our democracy through a commitment to civic engagement, secure elections, and empowering voters.