High incarceration rates in America affect political participation, especially among those eligible to vote.

Released felons often experience a significant drop in voting engagement after their release.

A field experiment in Connecticut shows that an informational outreach campaign can substantially reduce this decline and recover lost participation for many released individuals.

This suggests that targeted re-entry programs into the political system could help mitigate some of incarceration's negative effects on democratic involvement.

Key Findings

• A simple informational intervention significantly increased reported voting among recently released felons in Connecticut • Outreach efforts helped restore a large proportion of lost political participation following release

Real-World Relevance

• This evidence highlights the potential impact of targeted re-entry programs on democratic engagement • Results offer insights for states seeking to reduce barriers faced by formerly incarcerated citizens