CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- After spending 20 years in federal prison and completing his probation, Gemini Boyd voted for the first time week.

  • Gemini Boyd voted for the first time after being released from prison
  • Ex-felons in the state the have right to vote after finishing terms of parole
  • Boyd is encouraging others to exercise their right to vote

Boyd was released from federal prison in 2016 for a drug and gun conspiracy conviction. He said it could have been longer, but a majority of his sentence was reduced thanks to the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010.

State law gives ex-felons the right to vote, as long as they've finished the terms of their parole. Boyd’s completed his probation on Monday and cast his first ballot in his neighborhood on Wednesday.

“I mean it’s just hard to explain like there are no words to explain it because for me to be able to stand behind that ballot and be able to push those the way I wanted to push them meant a lot to me,” Boyd said.

Almost every day since early voting starting April 19, Boyd has been outside the polls encouraging others to vote.

"If we continue this cycle of vote this way, vote this way, vote this way especially in the black communities because we don’t educate ourselves and basically follow what others do,” said Boyd. “So what I try to do is enlighten people and encourage them about educating themselves about who they need to vote for."

Early voting ends Saturday at 1 pm and Election Day is Tuesday, May 8.  

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