The Next Election: Inmates Voting

The Next Election is based on true life events. The story opens with an award ceremony where Charles Sharpe is receiving an award for creating a nationally recognized crime prevention program known as STOP, which is an acronym for Straight Talk on Prison. Mr. Sharpe, in fact, did receive the award, and the actual ceremony took place in Oakland, California. The book then takes you to the inception of the program, which occurs in church while Charles experiences a vision during a sermon by Pastor Bob Jackson. Of course, no one wants to hear about visions, especially Patrol Officer Roth Brocks. But Mr. Brocks liked the idea and encouraged Charles to put it on paper so that Roth could discuss it with his supervisors. After much haggling, the idea was passed, and the Straight Talk on Prison program was the talk of the town. Everything was going smoothly until an idea emerged from the STOP program. Mr. Sharpe, who felt that John Kennedy was one of our greatest presidents, referenced a quote from Kennedy to ignite the idea! The quote-"We need men who can dream of things that never were and ask why not" The idea-to reinstate the constitutional right to vote of nonviolent incarcerated American citizens. The results-read The Next Election to find out!