Hundreds of Ex-Incarcerated Voters Encouraged by Modesto Re-Entry Program

Legacy Alliance Outreach, a re-entry program in Modesto that helps the once incarcerated adjust to life outside of prison, has registered about 270 of them to vote in this year’s presidential election.

Since the passage of state Proposition 17 in 2020, people who have been convicted of crimes and released with or without bail are now able to vote.

Michael Baldwin, founder and executive director of Legacy Alliance Outreach, is also voting for the first time after being incarcerated for 26 years.

“I’ll probably be one of the happiest people in the voting line because I think sometimes we take those kinds of obligations for granted,” the 53-year-old said.

Proposition 17 was passed with 59% approval of California voters, restoration of voting rights for people with a criminal record.

Michael Whitelaw, 36, was convicted of murder when he was 18.

“I was always under the impression that you couldn’t vote if you were a felon, so I was just made to understand that I could,” he said.

Baldwin said he worked hard to register people who might not otherwise have known they could vote. Legacy Alliance Outreach plans to provide transportation to the polls on Tuesday so new voters can cast their ballots.

Joshua Hilburn said he felt anxious and excited about voting for the first time.

“I’m happy because I can vote, I never thought I would be able to,” he said. “I was just surprised that California gave a person the opportunity to step up and make their voice heard for the first time in the country.”

Michael Patton said he’s looking forward to voting for the first time, but doesn’t know what to expect.

“Since I’ve been working on myself and my recovery, I’ve been trying to do all the ‘normal people’ things, you know,” he said. “I’m trying to learn new experiences and things I’ve never done in my life, and this is one of those things.”

Darnell Green is from west Modesto and said what he’s most looking forward to are the City Council races.

“I’m looking forward to seeing who will at least do something for the community and actively participate in community watch,” he said.

Esther Narango was released from prison in May and is one of many voters heading to the polling station on Tuesday.

“It’s a whole new experience knowing we’re allowed to vote on parole, which really surprised me,” she said. “I mean, if we pay taxes, we should be able to vote.”

Baldwin said he felt he was raised not to vote.

“I shouldn’t have voted, I shouldn’t have cared about that stuff,” he said. “Until I started learning and studying and I realized that the more I don’t care about it, the more of those decisions are made for me, and they’re usually not made in my best interest.”

Sammy Provencio said voting helped him feel part of the community. That’s why it’s important that formerly incarcerated people have that chance, he said.

“This is a country of democracy, you know, we can pick and choose,” he said. “This is the first time I’ve ever voted on measures like infrastructure and city schools and supervisors and choosing mayors.”

Lorenzo Vargas went to prison when he was 20 years old and just got out on July 2nd. Now 63, he said he initially hesitated to vote because he wanted to make sure he could do his homework on the candidates and the measures.

“This is my country and I embrace it,” Vargas said. “I’ve been given another opportunity and I want to do everything I can to make the right choices.

Jesse Ceceña was in prison for 44 years, now he is 63 years old. When he turned 18 and would be eligible to vote, he was already incarcerated. “So now I can have this opportunity, something I thought I would never have the opportunity to do,” Ceceña said. “I didn’t think my voice mattered, then today I see it does.”