40 voting block
still strong. still voting.
The 40 Strong Voting Block was started so our members and their families could gain equity in the legislative process of criminal justice and prison reform. We understood that Virginia D.O.C. is comprised of 23,000+ men and women who have families from the bottom of Tidewater and as far west as Bristol. With 23,000+ families geographically located in every corner of Virginia, we saw an opportunity....
Free began networking in 2022 inside his pod, building, and eventually the whole compound at Lawrenceville. The plan was to first educate the men on the power of their families' votes and then organize to garner as many votes as possible. This mission came without specified races, religions, or groups. Free spoke with Muslims as well as Christians, regular guys doing their time as well as gang members. This was not an easy task, as Free will attest to.....
"When I first started walking around the compound saying we needed to vote—dudes were looking at me crazy!... It was by no means easy."
However, we all stayed the course, and the word started to spread compound to compound. We used our events, newsletters, website, emails, and even our General Assembly days to advocate voting. We were still unsure if it would make a difference until the 2024 state elections came that November. We began to notice emails, comments, and many guys telling Free their families were voting. That November of 2024, Democrats gained control of both chambers of the General Assembly. The following November 2025, Abigail Spanberger was elected Virginia's first female Governor. There's no doubt in Free's mind that the voting block made a difference!
"I know for a fact our voting block showed up! All I heard for months leading up to the Governor's election night was—bro, my family got their friends, church, co-workers, etc., voting. It was amazing!"
The Virginia D.O.C. voting block is alive and well, and NEVER underestimate the power of your vote!
40 S.