Valerie Mitchell, Detroit

This is my first election voting because I just realized I could. It started with Angela at the Voting Access for All Coalition (VAAC). She’s the one who let me know I could vote since I was out of prison.

I didn’t know I had the right because in prison they told us we could not vote as felons. So, when Angela told me, I hurried to get registered to vote in this election. I already voted last Saturday, after the Soles to the Poles event.

Now, I’m the field lead for VAAC canvassers and I get people registered to vote. I ran past a couple of phone calls where people told me, “Oh, I can never vote because I’m a felon.” And I say, “You’ll be amazed because I’m just like you.”

I’ve already got 20 returning citizens registered, and they voted early. I have a lot of organizations behind me: I’m a C.V.I. advocate for FORC Detroit and I work with Godmother’s Touch while running my own business. They helped me learn more about the resources for returning citizens – from jobs to transportation for voting.

This election is so important because it’s about our rights as women and men. I’m voting because I care about my rights.