Logo for InfluenceWatch InfluenceWatch

Donate
Non-profit

Free the Ballot

Website:

freetheballot.org/
Location:

Philadelphia, PA
Tax ID:

84-2189894
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(4)

Budget (2020):

Revenue: $243,243
Expenses: $71,420
Assets: $193,534
Type:

Get-out-the-vote (GOTV) Activist Organization
Formation:

2019
Executive Director:

Tonya Bah

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

Free the Ballot! Incarcerated Voter Family Network (referred to simply as Free the Ballot) is a left-of-center activist organization that seeks to end what the group identifies as “mass incarceration” in Pennsylvania. 1 2 The group advocates for parole for those serving life sentences without parole 3 and has supported political candidates who have pledged to defund the police. 4

In 2021, Free the Ballot endorsed re-election of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner (D), who received nearly $2 million in campaign contributions from liberal billionaire George Soros, and praised Krasner’s policies that released prisoners. 5 6

Free the Ballot supports the far-left Black Lives Matter movement. 7 The group has called life prison sentences without the possibility of parole “racist” 8 and called incarceration during the COVID-19 pandemic “state sanctioned mass murder.” 9

History and Leadership

Free the Ballot! Incarcerated Voter Family Network (Free the Ballot) was established in 2019 as a project of members of the Coalition to Abolish Death by Incarceration. 10 In June 2019, Free the Ballot received tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). 11

Tonya Bah is the executive director of Free the Ballot. 12 Free the Ballot steering committee member Kris Henderson is the executive director of the Amistad Law Project. 13 In 2019, Henderson 14 was the recipient of a Soros Justice Fellowship from liberal billionaire George Soros’s Open Society Foundations. 15 16

Activities and Funding

Free the Ballot is a political organization consisting of incarcerated people and their families that supports left-of-center activist politics and works to end what the group identifies as “mass incarceration” in Pennsylvania. 17 18

Free the Ballot supports the far-left Black Lives Matter movement 19 and fights for the critical race theory-influenced concept of social justice. 20 The group has called life prison sentences without the possibility of parole “racist” 21 and called incarceration during the COVID-19 pandemic “state sanctioned mass murder.” 22

Free the Ballot has worked in Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, York, Dauphin, Lancaster, Chester, Berks, Lehigh, and Delaware Counties to win parole for prisoners with life sentences, 23 including former Black Panther Party member Russell Maroon Shoatz, who received a life sentence for the murder of Philadelphia police officer Frank Von Collin. 24 [25

Political Activities

Free the Ballot has supported candidates who pledged to defund the police and end mass incarceration for elected office in Pennsylvania. 26 The organization mails fliers to inmates in Pennsylvania state correctional institutions that inform them about left-of-center political candidates with the intention of encouraging inmates to discuss campaign platforms with their families outside of prison. 27

Free the Ballot supported the U.S. Senate campaign of John Fetterman (D-PA) in 2022. 28

In 2021, Free the Ballot endorsed re-election of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner (D), who received nearly $2 million in campaign contributions from liberal billionaire George Soros. 29 The organization praised Krasner’s policies of releasing individuals from prison. 30 In the 2021 election cycle, Free the Ballot coordinated get-out-the-vote efforts with 215 People’s Alliance as a part of left-of-center Action Network’s Reclaim Philadelphia. 31

In 2020, Free the Ballot endorsed the unsuccessful presidential campaign of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). 32

Free the Ballot is a part of the left-wing Pennsylvania Working Families Party’s state committee 33 and a member of Movement Voter Project’s Black-Led Organizing Fund. 34 The organization is also a member of the PA Justice Alliance, which consists of the ACLU of Pennsylvania, Abolitionist Law Center, Amistad Law Project, Coalition to Abolish Death by Incarceration, Decarcerate PA, Movement Alliance Project, 1Hood Power, Straight Ahead Organization, Reclaim Philadelphia, and The Youth Art and Self-Empowerment Project. 35 Free the Ballot is a sister organization of Amistad Movement Power and Straight Ahead. 36

PAC Activities

Free The Ballot is associated with the Free The Ballot! Incarcerated Voter Family Network Political Action Committee (PAC). 37  The PAC spent $2,193 in support of the U.S. Senate campaign of John Fetterman (D-PA) in the 2022 election cycle and $17,953 opposing the re-election of President Donald Trump in the 2020 election cycle. 38

Activities and Funding

Free the Ballot receives its funding from individual donations and grants. 39 Individual contributions to Free the Ballot are routed through the Democratic-aligned fundraising platform ActBlue Civics. 40 In 2020, Free the Ballot reported revenue of $359,212 and expenses of $253,283. In 2019, the organization reported revenue of $243,243 and expenses of $71,420. 41

In 2021, Free the Ballot received $75,000 from the left-of-center Hopewell Fund, which is managed by left-leaning philanthropic consultancy Arabella Advisors. 42

Free the Ballot received $25,000 from the left-of-center Tides Foundation in 2020. 43 In 2019, Free the Ballot received $55,000 from the left-leaning All Hands on Deck Network. 44 The organization also receives financial support from the Movement Voter Project PAC’s Pennsylvania Fund. 45

References

  1. “Twitter Bio.” Free the Ballot Incarcerated Voter Family Network Twitter Page.” Accessed via Web Archive January 28, 2023. https://twitter.com/FreeTheBallot?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor.
  2. “Free the Ballot!” ActBlue Civics. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/freetheballot.
  3.  “Black-Led Organizing Fund.” Movement Voter Project. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://movement.vote/funds/black-led-fund/.
  4. “Facebook Post.” Free the Ballot Incarcerated Voter Family Network. Posted June 2, 2020. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/freetheballotpennsylvania/posts/pfbid02VG1L5G2kc6uqhqGzjUGc5wzWzH8HTTrwLNVkY8c4Tp8rSkAmec8zAa9ntXt4TL7Vl?__cft__[0]=AZVM9GeP3X93wegE7vAiB89ZR13Iq5B3I-GLAOuSUWJv4gDyOGXFZ4woKq0uiAcc7ipR1sY2aXnhfbNLDztNlZLe0l9K5YDvT5zoiGn85YTN8oATNv1RAmcJ1urOmpKiXNUpQvg91Ytb7T46mCkr5wpJ2KkF4imW1g6epaIG3ui7D9ubkInMUs5PhoYO0A83K_5ghAEjVa_gnkkNb0rP78wy&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R.
  5. “Endorsement Image.” Free the Ballot Incarcerated Voter Family Network Facebook Page.” Posted February 22, 2021. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://m.facebook.com/freetheballotpennsylvania/photos/a.113856706664516/479173026799547/?type=3&_rdr.
  6. Davies, Dave. “Soros put nearly $1.7 million in Philly DA’s race.” WHYY.org, June 21, 2017. Accessed February 3, 2023. https://whyy.org/articles/soros-weighed-in-with-even-more-money-in-das-race/.
  7. “Matter is the minimum.” Free The Ballot Incarcerated Voter Family Network Facebook Page. Video Posted October 27, 2020. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/freetheballotpennsylvania/videos/matter-is-the-minimum/4821311381273635.
  8. “Facebook Post.” Free the Ballot Incarcerated Voter Family Network Facebook Page. Posted August 26, 2020. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/freetheballotpennsylvania/posts/pfbid02F1wYYHDURD7AXGgiRhLJzaQqULGvbc5V4agKJsFyneq3WcwQS6cSe8f6Lbc66LWYl?__cft__[0]=AZV4f80Ho3jP1goBybZpuO0M6rHExmIWeWwQhmG9qlyh8N-H_KusdM43hkMNvmAVr3auMpajMgxRFHuiY9hyGO9QllMM923K79ox0TNAb67atnpJZ4Z0nSH_19Cys6OyuGQS-w6P85RK_KDKW_hGL1P_ix1LH2Fz2eTb–q2dgeXtNsaIXn9PnvY4Tk1JOL-K1PRXymLwGf5_zUzmGFTj9wP&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R.
  9. “Image.” Free the Ballot Incarcerated Voter Family Network Facebook Page. Posted November 18, 2020. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=413712076678976&set=pb.100069303665744.-2207520000.
  10. “Black-Led Organizing Fund.” Movement Voter Project. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://movement.vote/funds/black-led-fund/.
  11. “Determination Letter.” Department of Treasury Internal Revenue Service. July 29, 2021. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/dl/FinalLetter_84-2189894_FREETHEBALLOTINCARCERATEDVOTERFAMILYNETWORK_03052021.tif.
  12. “Our Team.” Free the Ballot. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://freetheballot.org/about/.
  13. “Our Team.” Amistad Law Project. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://amistadlaw.org/our-team.
  14. “Our Team.” Free the Ballot. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://freetheballot.org/about/.
  15. “Open Society Foundations Announce 2019 Soros Justice Fellows.” Open Society Foundaions. September 27, 2019. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/newsroom/open-society-foundations-announce-2019-soros-justice-fellows?fbclid=IwAR2tI08UpS9s6eAKm8yEcSXZdsfg7Qft4w3tUdhfUkY1uNCnyNP6YhEHX5Y
  16. “Facebook Post.” Free the ballot Incarcerated Family Network Facebook Post. October 1, 2019. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/freetheballotpennsylvania/posts/pfbid02yUjnAeF65gjXLKfJKMLm1rDV4NzdphQUBb4mGTRThbFLtXTNgQc9sURYh15wvqKZl?__cft__[0]=AZWK7MriCQbmJ0uL5w6V_qzar8EG0Wytzqj4NU-z1ZO2JBLy_yg_nYuIF0oneN3Zjkue0Zw2T-IEgRMkN7yS5dxd-J2OHgTQYNEu7y89iXP1IlJ-f3O_g-e4jeXDsU2ofKALMPSsbokt-XP3vIPWUHl1UgJnG39sbjMARFS8hWa1CgQ58ZUiWECaYqFl7KGfLvIqy3Q_kbYIJEH0wvF3xCIv&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R.
  17. “Twitter Bio.” Free the Ballot Incarcerated Voter Family Network Twitter Page.” Accessed via Web Archive January 28, 2023. https://twitter.com/FreeTheBallot?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor.
  18. “Free the Ballot!” ActBlue Civics. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/freetheballot.
  19. “Matter is the minimum.” Free The Ballot Incarcerated Voter Family Network Facebook Page. Video Posted October 27, 2020. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/freetheballotpennsylvania/videos/matter-is-the-minimum/4821311381273635.
  20. “About.” Free the Ballot. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://freetheballot.org/.
  21. “Facebook Post.” Free the Ballot Incarcerated Voter Family Network Facebook Page. Posted August 26, 2020. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/freetheballotpennsylvania/posts/pfbid02F1wYYHDURD7AXGgiRhLJzaQqULGvbc5V4agKJsFyneq3WcwQS6cSe8f6Lbc66LWYl?__cft__[0]=AZV4f80Ho3jP1goBybZpuO0M6rHExmIWeWwQhmG9qlyh8N-H_KusdM43hkMNvmAVr3auMpajMgxRFHuiY9hyGO9QllMM923K79ox0TNAb67atnpJZ4Z0nSH_19Cys6OyuGQS-w6P85RK_KDKW_hGL1P_ix1LH2Fz2eTb–q2dgeXtNsaIXn9PnvY4Tk1JOL-K1PRXymLwGf5_zUzmGFTj9wP&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R.
  22. “Image.” Free the Ballot Incarcerated Voter Family Network Facebook Page. Posted November 18, 2020. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=413712076678976&set=pb.100069303665744.-2207520000.
  23. “Black-Led Organizing Fund.” Movement Voter Project. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://movement.vote/funds/black-led-fund/.
  24. [1] “Image.” Free the Ballot Incarcerated Voter Family Network Facebook. Image Posted November 25, 2020. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/freetheballotpennsylvania/photos/pb.100069303665744.-2207520000./418963026153881/?type=3.
  25. Slobodzian, Joseph A. “Out of solitary after 22 years and $99,000 richer, cop-killer Russell Shoatz ponders the rest of his life in prison.” Philadelphia Inquirer. July 22, 2016. Accessed via Web Archive January 28, 2023. https://archive.ph/8d7AS.
  26. “Facebook Post.” Free the Ballot Incarcerated Voter Family Network. Posted June 2, 2020. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/freetheballotpennsylvania/posts/pfbid02VG1L5G2kc6uqhqGzjUGc5wzWzH8HTTrwLNVkY8c4Tp8rSkAmec8zAa9ntXt4TL7Vl?__cft__[0]=AZVM9GeP3X93wegE7vAiB89ZR13Iq5B3I-GLAOuSUWJv4gDyOGXFZ4woKq0uiAcc7ipR1sY2aXnhfbNLDztNlZLe0l9K5YDvT5zoiGn85YTN8oATNv1RAmcJ1urOmpKiXNUpQvg91Ytb7T46mCkr5wpJ2KkF4imW1g6epaIG3ui7D9ubkInMUs5PhoYO0A83K_5ghAEjVa_gnkkNb0rP78wy&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R.
  27. Jaafari, Joseph Darius. “For Pa.’s returning citizens, getting into the voting booth can be an uphill battle.” WHYY PBS. November 12, 2019. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://whyy.org/articles/from-behind-bars-to-the-voting-booth/.
  28. “Tomorrow is election day – vote for John Fetterman to support second chances, keeping our elders and kids out of prison and reuniting families.” Free the Ballot Incarcerated Voter Family Network Facebook Video. Posted November 7, 2022. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/freetheballotpennsylvania/videos/tomorrow-is-election-day-vote-for-john-fetterman-to-support-second-chances-keepi/679171240552851/.
  29. Davies, Dave. “Soros put nearly $1.7 million in Philly DA’s race.” WHYY.org, June 21, 2017. Accessed February 3, 2023. https://whyy.org/articles/soros-weighed-in-with-even-more-money-in-das-race/.
  30. “Endorsement Image.” Free the Ballot Incarcerated Voter Family Network Facebook Page.” Posted February 22, 2021. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://m.facebook.com/freetheballotpennsylvania/photos/a.113856706664516/479173026799547/?type=3&_rdr.
  31. “Home.” Reclaim Philadelphia. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://www.reclaimphiladelphia.org/.
  32. “Image.” Free the Ballot Incarcerated Voter Family Network Facebook Page. Posted June 1, 2020. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=279164393467079&set=pb.100069303665744.-2207520000.
  33. Orso, Anna. “A progressive group is pulling its endorsement of lawmakers who voted to hold Larry Krasner in contempt.” Philadelphia Inquirer. September 23, 2022. Accessed via Web Archive January 28, 2023. https://archive.ph/Osp2P.
  34. “Black-Led Organizing Fund.” Movement Voter Fund. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://movement.vote/funds/black-led-fund/.
  35. “VIDEO: PA Justice Alliance ‘The Struggle for Second Chances’ Forum.” Amistad Law Project. May 6, 2021. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://amistadlaw.org/news/video-pa-justice-alliance-struggle-second-chances-forum.
  36. “Facebook Post.” Free The Ballot Incarcerated Voter Family Network. Posted January 27, 2023. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/freetheballotpennsylvania/posts/pfbid07h1HWvSZZgkNSCoac4j7bb8avKWomBQM6gyybj4eBY5rYh9Qx7vFxFZpY8yXdeUfl?__cft__[0]=AZUUh4aEicEQJguGb_qhjtJ3Ch7XIMtkgal0xxTwn5_xf10XQLqa73GfT24dvaztTT1DtI0FQmr-tWQVtmq3llLl2RuO2S1oCis5AJ32_1iRtHqdBvywzdEXl6LrIZZMMofrkqY44YOESQDshUirHeS0M9a1WgjRk62L2PlwsByymFTZGSmypFcXAn8LVqCbBR3sygMCoK7tQsn9rwCPX0Fk&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R.
  37. “Free the Ballot! Incarcerated Voter Family Network.” Federal Election Commission of the Untied States. Spending Profile. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C90020124/?cycle=2020&tab=spending.
  38. “Free The Ballot! Incarcerated Voter Family Network Outside Spending.” Open Secrets. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://www.opensecrets.org/outside-spending/detail/2020?cmte=C90020124&tab=targeted_candidates.
  39. “Free the Ballot!” ActBlue Contribution Page. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/freetheballot.
  40. “Free the Ballot!” ActBlue Civics. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/freetheballot.
  41. “Free the Ballot Incarcerated Voter Family Network.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2020. Part I. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/842189894_202109_990O_2022082920301479.pdf.
  42.  “Hopewell Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2021. Schedule I. http://www.hopewellfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Hopewell-Fund-2021-Public-Disclosure-Copy.pdf.
  43. “Tides Foundation.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2020. Schedule I. https://www.tides.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/2020_Tides-Foundation_Form-990-Public-Disclosure-1.pdf.
  44. “All Hands on Deck Network Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2019. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/371697474/202141769349301039/full.
  45. “Pennsylvania Fund.” Movement Voter Fund. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://movement.vote/funds/pafund/.
  See an error? Let us know!

Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: September - August
  • Tax Exemption Received: July 1, 2021

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2020 Sep Form 990 $243,243 $71,420 $193,534 $2,217 N $243,231 $0 $0 $0 PDF

    Free the Ballot

    P.O. Box 30820
    Philadelphia, PA