Systemic Obstacles and Survival Challenges Undermine the Voting Rights of Unhoused Americans
Homeless people have a right to vote in the United States. However, many chose not to go to the polls in 2024 despite a large swath of measures to expand affordable housing production and fund homeless services.
There are several legitimate reasons for a homeless person to avoid voting. For instance, many homeless people already have a lot to worry about, like staying safe on the streets and preventing others from stealing their belongings. Others live in states that have enacted laws that make it more challenging for them to vote in the first place. Some homeless people simply don’t know they can register to vote without a permanent address.
Experts like Niki Jones, the executive director of the Sacramento Regional Coalition to End Homelessness, say the lack of political participation from homeless people represents a bigger problem. Homelessness is the most pressing issue in many communities across the country, yet homeless people themselves are often left out of the conversation.
“When you are not sure where your next meal is coming from, and you’re having to think about where you’re going to sleep tonight, that makes it very difficult to remember that it’s also voting day,” said Niki Jones, who leads the Sacramento Regional Coalition to End Homelessness.
Rising Homelessness Meets Restrictive Voting Laws
Homelessness spiked by 12% nationwide in 2023, up to more than 653,000 people, according to federal data. States like California, New York, Florida, Texas, and Georgia account for much of the total.
Despite this growth, some states have made it more difficult for homeless people to vote, which is one of the few ways they can advocate for their interests.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed a legislative package in May that made significant changes to the state’s voting laws, some of which made it more difficult for homeless people to participate in elections. The new laws require people without a permanent address to pick up elections-related materials at the registrar’s office in the county where they live. However, the locations of these offices are often far away from places where homeless people reside, which makes it less likely that they will pick up these materials.
In September, the Georgia State Conference of the NAACP challenged Georgia’s voting laws. The lawsuit argues that the changes could result in severe burdens on their fundamental right to vote, including unlawful removal from the voter rolls and disenfranchisement, without any legitimate justification or basis in state or federal law.
Criminalization and Mistrust of Government Compound Barriers
State laws that prohibit street camping may also be contributing to homeless people’s lack of participation. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law in October that prevents cities from allowing people to sleep in public, which has solidified some people’s mistrust of government.
Some homeless people in California told local news station KALW that they decided not to vote because of the threat of sweeps. One individual named Marcus said he decided not to vote because he didn’t have a safe place to store his stuff while he was gone. Others said they didn’t know they could vote at all.
Despite the lack of participation among homeless people, voters across the country approved ballot measures to bolster affordable housing production and homeless services. Some communities also defeated harmful measures that would have further criminalized homelessness, according to an analysis by the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
San Francisco voters approved a $390 million bond measure to bolster community health and mental health facilities, including temporary shelters. Voters in Lawrence, Kansas, approved a sales tax increase that would also fund those services.
A Call to Rethink Housing and Aid Programs
The pandemic proved that we need to rethink housing in the United States. It also demonstrated that well-funded and well-implemented aid programs can make a significant difference in keeping people housed. But these programs require political will to sustain—and that starts with voter participation.
Homeless people face immense barriers to voting, yet their voices are crucial in shaping policies that directly impact their lives. It’s up to all of us to ensure these barriers are removed. Contact your officials and representatives to advocate for fair voting laws and to support pandemic-era housing aid programs. These measures have already shown they can prevent homelessness and offer a pathway to stability.
Our democracy is strongest when everyone has a voice. Let’s work to amplify the voices of those most affected by homelessness and create a future where everyone has a place to call home.
