More voter signups at jail planned
Star staff
Posted: April 15, 2008
A group that counsels convicted felons plans to return to the Marion County Jail later this month to collect more absentee ballots for the May 6 primary.
The organization known as Members of the Village Empowered, or MOVE, registered 75 inmates to vote during a visit April 7. About 40 of them cast absentee ballots, said Carlette Duffy, one of the group’s leaders.
State Rep. Bill Crawford, D-Indianapolis, asked Sheriff Frank Anderson for permission for MOVE to conduct the voter registration drive, and the sheriff agreed it was a good idea, said Julio Fernandez, spokesman for Anderson.
The inmates were registered to vote only if they were not serving time for a conviction and could cast absentee ballots – or will be released in time for the primary, Fernandez said.
The inmates will not be allowed out of the jail for next month's primary. But those who filled out absentee ballots have now voted, because MOVE took the ballots to the Marion County clerk’s office. The group plans to return just before the primary to collect more absentee ballots.
Duffy said her group meets every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Oasis of Hope Baptist Church, 1701 E. 25th St. The organization helps released offenders get back on their feet. Its Web site is
M.O.V.E. Home Page.
Helping jail nmates participate in elections could encourage them to obey society’s rules, she said.
“True, they’re in jail. But they’re still members of the community. Hopefully, they will think that since they’re part of the community, they’ll put their best foot forward.
“When you own something, you treat it a lot better.”
Star staff
Posted: April 15, 2008
A group that counsels convicted felons plans to return to the Marion County Jail later this month to collect more absentee ballots for the May 6 primary.
The organization known as Members of the Village Empowered, or MOVE, registered 75 inmates to vote during a visit April 7. About 40 of them cast absentee ballots, said Carlette Duffy, one of the group’s leaders.
State Rep. Bill Crawford, D-Indianapolis, asked Sheriff Frank Anderson for permission for MOVE to conduct the voter registration drive, and the sheriff agreed it was a good idea, said Julio Fernandez, spokesman for Anderson.
The inmates were registered to vote only if they were not serving time for a conviction and could cast absentee ballots – or will be released in time for the primary, Fernandez said.
The inmates will not be allowed out of the jail for next month's primary. But those who filled out absentee ballots have now voted, because MOVE took the ballots to the Marion County clerk’s office. The group plans to return just before the primary to collect more absentee ballots.
Duffy said her group meets every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Oasis of Hope Baptist Church, 1701 E. 25th St. The organization helps released offenders get back on their feet. Its Web site is
M.O.V.E. Home Page.
Helping jail nmates participate in elections could encourage them to obey society’s rules, she said.
“True, they’re in jail. But they’re still members of the community. Hopefully, they will think that since they’re part of the community, they’ll put their best foot forward.
“When you own something, you treat it a lot better.”
