Submitted by MitchTobol on

Every vote counts

Categories
Politics

Or does it?

 

Earlier this month US Attorney General Holder called for an end to felon disenfranchisement...the ability of a convicted felon to vote. Not the people who are already in jail...only those that have been released. Most states have this restriction as law.

 

There are over 5.8 million people who are convicted felons. They have already paid their debt to society and still can't vote in any election. Some people feel that since they have completed their sentences, they should have all of their rights and privileges restored. They argue that to block ex-felons from voting are unfair, undemocratic, and politically or racially motivated.

 

Those who are opposed say felon voting restrictions are similar to other voting limitations such as age, residency, sanity, etc. There are also other felon restrictions such as no guns for violent offenders and no sex offenders near schools. They say that convicted felons have demonstrated poor judgment and should not be trusted with a vote.

 

Although in Maine and Vermont, you can vote while you're still in jail.

 

What do you think? Should convicted felons be allowed to vote?

Comments

Fred Klein

I'm not convinced that they should. Reasons in favor?
Susan Zinder

Everyone should vote. Our voting rate is appalling for a country that goes around the world pushing democracy as the answer. There are people I would prefer if they wouldn't - - but that doesn't mean I don't think they should.

Submitted by NULL (not verified) on Fri, 02/28/2014 - 23:51

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seems to be a total waste of time, only lets the politicians determine how far they have to skew their promises, and how much they'll need to fix the results
our version of democracy is pathetic, we'll ship troops around the world till they get their legs blown off (or worse) to protect our interests in oil and cronyism, and think there will be a job or benefits waiting for them upon return? This isnt the "happy days" of the 1950s anymore- the world is flat, the thin veil of prestige that we sought to show the world has not tarnished, its completely eroded

Submitted by NULL (not verified) on Sat, 03/01/2014 - 01:19

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A staggering number of the felons in question were convicted of "offenses" that are now legal in Washington and Colorado, and will likely be legal in many more places as other states watch them cash in on their new revenue windfalls. The wildly unsuccessful and racially discriminatory War on Drugs has branded thousands of Americans as criminals, and as this atrocity is steadily rolled back, those hurt by it should be re-enfranchised. My $0.02...

Submitted by JimWeiss on Sat, 03/01/2014 - 01:21

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Jim Weiss

A staggering number of the felons in question were convicted of "offenses" that are now legal in Washington and Colorado, and will likely be legal in many more places as other states watch them cash in on their new revenue windfalls. The wildly unsuccessful and racially-targeted War on Drugs has branded hundreds of thousands of Americans as criminals, and as this atrocity is steadily rolled back, those hurt by it should be re-enfranchised. My $0.02...

Submitted by NULL (not verified) on Sat, 03/01/2014 - 01:24

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I never understood why someone, who has completed their sentence can't vote. Great topic Mitch!
Rona Gura

Oops, the above comment was me. Didn't realize I wasn't signed in.

Submitted by StephenMichel on Sat, 03/01/2014 - 04:24

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Stephen Michel

I thought the law was you couldn't vote if you served a year and a day in jail. Or is that for only Federal.

Submitted by Erik_Scheibe on Sat, 03/01/2014 - 23:36

In reply to by JimWeiss

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Erik Scheibe

Drugs are much more dangerous than guns, yet the same people who want less drug enforcement want more gun enforcement.

Submitted by Erik_Scheibe on Sat, 03/01/2014 - 23:36

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Erik Scheibe

I actually didn't know this was true. I can't imagine why someone who has served their full sentence should not be allowed to vote.

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