‘Recovery Voices Count’ and recovery votes count

As part of a national non-partisan campaign to strengthen the voice of people in recovery from addiction, a statewide grassroots organization introduced “Recovery Voices Count” to prison inmates in recovery and soon to be released.
 

Donna Conley, CEO of Ohio Citizen Advocates for Chemical Dependency Prevention and Treatment (OCA), explained that “Recovery Voices Count” urges people to make their voices heard through their votes.  She taught women at the Franklin Pre-Release Center, 1800 Harmon Ave., Columbus, how to register to vote and asked them to sign up for more voter education information when they are released. 

By Ohio law, people incarcerated may not register to vote, but they can vote upon their release, with a felony or misdemeanor conviction(s). They can vote if on parole, probation, or supervised release. 

“This is the first time we have had the opportunity to take voter education inside the prison system,” said Conley.  “There are many people in prison because of their addiction and they need to know about voting for candidates and issues that help people maintain sobriety.”

OCA is an advocacy group for all Ohioans recovering from addiction to alcohol and other drugs.  “Recovery Voices Count” is a national campaign to help those people, their families, friends and allies participate in civic engagement.  The campaign was created by Faces and Voices of Recovery (FAVOR) which named OCA as the organization to lead efforts in Ohio.
 

For “Recovery Voices Count” OCA has set a goal to get 1,000 new voters registered by the October 6, 2008 deadline and get 85 percent out to the polls on Election Day.  The voter education within the prisons is a starting point for gathering names and contact information for people in recovery who want information about candidates and issues that will help them continue their sobriety after release.

In addition to providing voter information in prisons, OCA is looking for volunteers to man voter registration tables at venues across Ohio urging all eligible voters to register and get-out-the-vote.

Conley said they are looking at recovery community groups, alumni groups, and any kind of event or group where people in recovery come together.  She expects to see voter registration tables at many events such as rallies, walks and other activities statewide during September which is National Recovery Month.

Since “Recovery Voices Count” is a non-partisan campaign it is lawful for government agencies and non-profit organizations to participate.  OCA is asking county boards that deal with addiction and mental health to consider including voter registration tables when they have booths at county fairs.

“Hopefully, we can encourage health care providers and addiction rehabilitation centers to set up registration tables too,” Conley said.

Another part of “Recovery Voices Count” is to educate candidates on issues important to the recovery community and gather data needed to educate voters about the candidates. “Recovery Voices Count” created five questions for candidates which ask if they will support an increase in funding for prevention and treatment, agree to emphasize treatment rather than jail, and vote for a bill to end insurance discrimination.

“Our candidate education is designed to help our policy makers understand that the recovery community is a constituency of consequence,” Conley said.

Volunteers or anyone interested in more information should contact OCA by phone, 614-486-2430, toll free 1-888-229-1285, or e-mail [email protected].