FLINT, MI -- Genesee County Jail inmates will have the opportunity to hear from local candidates candidates at a Friday, Oct. 29 forum.
All 42 candidates appearing on a Genesee County ballot or registered as a write-in during the Tuesday, Nov. 2 election were invited to speak at the event.
Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson told MLive-The Flint Journal that 38 candidates have responded.
“We had like a 96% acceptance rate,” Swanson said. “Isn’t that nuts? This has never been done before -- ever. Meet the candidate at the jail? Come on now.”
Related: Genesee County, state officials stress importance of voting access for unsentenced jail inmates
Any Michigan resident who is incarcerated but is not serving a sentence retains the right to vote.
However, many Michiganders who are eligible to exercise this right are denied the help and access they need to cast a ballot while incarcerated, according to a recent report by Nation Outside and the Voting Access for All Coalition.
Voting education is part of the Genesee County Jail’s IGNITE (Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education) program, Swanson said.
“It goes along with our IGNITE philosophy, which is to educate people on a number of different levels in order for them to be productive citizens,” Swanson said. “What we have found is many of the people within jails have not taken advantage of their responsibility to vote and certainly the education process. So, along with all the other curriculums we have, voting knowledge and voting ability is a big, big part of it.”
Related: 12 inmates graduate from Genesee County Jail’s IGNITE education program
The sheriff noted that the event also benefits candidates looking to engage with all potential constituents.
Only candidates and inmates will be able to attend the jail forum, but Swanson said it will also be broadcast live on the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.
A welcome team will greet candidates starting at 9 a.m. Friday. At 10 a.m., the event will begin with an address from Swanson. The first of three forums will kick off at 10:30 a.m.
Each candidate will have the opportunity to speak about their platform for three minutes with Genesee County Ambassador Johnell Allen-Bey moderating the event. There will also be a short period of time designated for questions.
The length of time will depend on how many candidates who responded to the event show up, Swanson said.
This process will be repeated on three separate floors of the jail with 40 inmates on each level of the floor.
“We’ve selected those based on performance as well as their interest in politics,” Allen-Bey said.
Each candidate is asked to speak only about their own platform, Allen-Bey said.
“We want the candidates to focus on themselves, not throw others under the bus or try to play dirty politics,” he said.
There are approximately 615 people currently in the jail, with about 70% from Flint and 30% from other Genesee County municipalities.
This is why candidates from every race were invited to speak at the jail, Allen-Bey said.
“This is an opportunity for candidates to be able to say what they’re doing and what their views are,” he said. “That’s exciting for our inmates here to have a platform and ask questions on what policies impact their lives and, as voters, see who they want to support.”
All of the candidates on the ballot for Flint City Council seats have said they will attend the event.
“That breakdown is incredible because we have people in our jail from everywhere,” Allen-Bey said. “So first ward through the ninth word, they’re here.”
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