For centuries, the American legal system has been used as a tool of systemic inequity, cutting off pathways to opportunity and silencing the voices of those most impacted. From voter suppression to economic exclusion, justice-impacted individuals have borne the brunt of policies and prejudices that label them as less than full citizens. The stigma of a criminal record too often follows people long after their sentence ends, shaping how society sees them, and worse, how laws treat them.

The Urban League Affiliate Movement, in partnership with the Equitable Justice and Strategic Initiatives (EJSI) division, is pushing back. Through civic engagement, policy advocacy, and direct service, affiliates across the country are rewriting that narrative. They are proving that justice-impacted individuals are not only worthy of participation in our democracy, they are essential to its strength.

Expanding Democracy from the Inside Out

In its unrelenting commitment to defending democracy and dismantling barriers to the ballot box, the National Urban League has prioritized efforts to ensure that even the most marginalized Americans, those behind bars, have access to the right to vote.

Through its jail-based voter engagement work, rooted in the National Urban League’s Reclaim Your Vote Campaign and the Equitable Justice and Strategic Initiatives (EJSI) team, the League and its affiliates have developed innovative models to reach detained voters. 

Based on affiliate insights, the program’s success hinges on five core strategies: building trusted relationships with local jail officials, partnering with grassroots organizations already serving justice-impacted populations, maintaining direct engagement with detained individuals, launching efforts well ahead of election cycles, and expanding outreach programs designed for the formerly incarcerated to include those still inside.

Through its Affiliate Voting in Jails program, the League and its affiliates have developed innovative models to reach detained voters. Based on affiliate insights, the program’s success hinges on five core strategies: building trusted relationships with local jail officials, partnering with grassroots organizations already serving justice-impacted populations, maintaining direct engagement with detained individuals, launching efforts well ahead of election cycles, and expanding outreach programs designed for the formerly incarcerated to include those still inside.

A powerful example of this expansion comes from Wisconsin, where the Urban League of Greater Madison, the Milwaukee Urban League, and the Urban League of Racine and Kenosha joined forces with Ex-Incarcerated People Organizing (EXPO). Together, they launched a digital campaign targeting formerly incarcerated voters—ultimately reaching over 2,000 individuals. This model presents a roadmap for reaching detained populations by adapting digital resources into printed materials for jail distribution or direct mail campaigns, especially in jurisdictions where in-person access is limited.

Philadelphia demonstrates what is possible when access is granted. There, the Urban League leveraged its strong relationship with the city’s jail commissioner to implement the Pathways Home initiative. Under this program, affiliate staff entered local jails multiple times each week, delivering voter registration forms and conducting in-depth civic education sessions. These efforts registered over 200 detained individuals and ensured their mail-in ballots were processed on time—undeterred by delays common in jail search protocols. The affiliate further amplified its impact by participating in Philadelphia’s inaugural reentry resource fair, sharing voter education materials with more than 1,000 people.

This hands-on work reflects the League’s philosophy that democracy does not end at the jailhouse door—and that civic inclusion is a critical pillar of reentry and rehabilitation.

The Texas Lawsuit Against SB1

When Texas enacted Senate Bill 1, a sweeping voter suppression law, Urban League affiliates were among the first to fight back. The Houston Area Urban League joined a coalition of civil rights plaintiffs, including Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, The Arc of Texas, and election worker Jeffrey Lamar Clemmons, to challenge the law in federal court.

Heard by District Judge Xavier Rodriguez, the case asserts that SB1 violates multiple legal protections, including the Voting Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and the U.S. Constitution. While some provisions have been blocked through preliminary injunctions, the case continues to advance, symbolizing a frontline defense against the rising tide of voter suppression.

The suit targets several deeply harmful provisions: limits on early voting, the elimination of 24-hour and drive-thru voting, reduced access to mail ballot drop-offs, and criminal penalties aimed at voter assistants and poll workers. These tactics represent a deliberate assault on Black and Latino voters and people with disabilities. The League stands firm, leveraging the courts to ensure that every Texan can cast a ballot without fear or obstruction.

Reentry and Clean Slate

The League's reentry work extends far beyond the jail walls. In Chicago, the Urban League is leading implementation of the Department of Labor’s Growth Opportunities grant, targeting young adults aged 18–24 who have been justice-impacted. As part of this initiative, the League is planning clinics to resolve open legal cases, expunge criminal records, and connect participants with legal services that open doors to employment, housing, and stability.

In Maryland, the League played a key advocacy role in the passage of Senate Bill 432, known as the "Abhishek Bill,” which overturned a draconian court precedent that barred expungement for individuals with probation violations. This legislative victory paves the way for thousands to rebuild their lives. With SB432 now law, the League and its partners are pushing for full Clean Slate legislation that would automate record clearance and remove a major barrier to economic mobility.

Meanwhile, in Illinois, the League has emerged as a key voice in the Clean Slate Illinois coalition. On April 10, the Equitable Justice and Strategic Initiatives team and the Chicago Urban League joined other advocates in a statehouse advocacy day led by Live Free Illinois. Following intense lobbying, Clean Slate legislation (SB1784) passed the Illinois House in late May and now awaits a final vote in the Senate. The League is calling on lawmakers to reconvene and fulfill their promise to deliver justice for thousands across the state.