Free Hearts Fines & Fees Fund
Tennessee disenfranchises the second most people in the country 421k, second only to Texas and has the most complicated voter restoration law of any state. We are the only state that requires an individual to be up to date on child support to get their voting rights back. & Tennessee has the 2nd highest disparate impact on black folks 21%, 2nd only to Kentucky. Many of the people who cannot get their voting rights restored are otherwise eligible but owe fines and fees.
By requiring that individuals pay all their criminal-legal fines and fees before exercising the franchise, Tennessee has created a two-tiered system of citizenship: Individuals who have financial means can pay and vote immediately, but poor individuals are denied participation in our democracy.
Wealth-based voting restrictions prove permanent for many people. Individuals owe an average of $13,607 in criminal legal-related obligations when they complete their incarceration. These numbers suggest that in many cases, people may spend years trying to repay their criminal-legal debts. The consequence is a wealth-based restriction that disenfranchises some people—the people too poor to pay—for decades or even life.
Fines and fees ultimately impact entire communities. Research shows that 63% of individuals—more than 6 in 10 people—borrow from family members when paying court debt. Among these family members, 20% must take out loans and 9% have their wages garnished. In short, court debt isn’t just a drag on the people who are indebted. It’s a drag on their husbands, wives, children, grandparents, and other relations.
Despite their prevalence, fees and fines often bring in limited revenue. Since fees and fines are levied primarily on those who can’t afford them, the collection rate is frequently low. A 2012 survey of Tennessee criminal courts found that criminal courts had only a 30% collection rate for fees and fines.
We are excited to launch the Free Hearts Fines & Fees Fund on the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage to help restore the voting rights of Tennesseans, and to continue to build the political power to fight this and other policies that hold us back. Please consider supporting this fund and sharing the fund to your network.
Contribution rules
- Charitable donations made through this form are received and processed by ActBlue Charities, Inc., a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization formed to democratize charitable giving, and are subject to ActBlue’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. The merchant of record for this transaction is ActBlue Charities, Inc. We subsequently give your contribution to the organization or cause that you have selected on the contribution form. A copy of our latest financial report may be obtained by contacting us at actblue.com/contact or calling (617) 517-7600. Alternatively, our report detailing our programs, a financial summary, and the percentage of contributions dedicated to our charitable purpose, along with a copy of our license, may be obtained from the following state agencies: FLORIDA (registration #CH46938) – A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE, 1-800-435-7352 (800-HELP-FLA) WITHIN THE STATE OR VISITING www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com; GEORGIA (registration #CH012361) – contact ActBlue Charities; MARYLAND (registration #29971) – For the cost of copies and postage, documents and information filed under the Maryland charitable organizations laws can be obtained from the Office of the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401; MISSISSIPPI (registration #100024326) – Secretary of State’s Office 1-888-236-6167; NEW JERSEY (registration #CH3867000) – INFORMATION FILED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONCERNING THIS CHARITABLE SOLICITATION AND THE PERCENTAGE OF CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED BY THE CHARITY DURING THE LAST REPORTING PERIOD THAT WERE DEDICATED TO THE CHARITABLE PURPOSE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY BY CALLING (973) 504-6215 AND IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/charfrm.htm; NEW YORK (registration #45-25-27) – New York Attorney General’s Charities Registry at www.charitiesnys.com or, the Office of the Attorney General, Charities Bureau, 28 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10005, or (212) 416-8686; NORTH CAROLINA (registration #SL009830) – FINANCIAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ORGANIZATION AND A COPY OF ITS LICENSE ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE STATE SOLICITATION LICENSING BRANCH AT 1-888-830-4989.; PENNSYLVANIA (registration #104758) – Department of State, 800-732-0999; VIRGINIA – Virginia State Office of Consumer Affairs, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services, PO Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23218; WASHINGTON (registration #37969) – Secretary of State, Charities Division, Olympia, WA 98504-0422, 800-332-4483; WEST VIRGINIA (registration #9826) – Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305; WISCONSIN (registration #16203-800) – contact ActBlue Charities. Registration with and reporting to these agencies does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation of ActBlue Charities.
- By making a contribution, you attest that the contribution is made from your own funds or the funds of an authorizing corporation or other entity, and the funds are not being provided by any other person or entity.