Poll watching today and I'm in tears

[mcar]

A young woman just came in. She's a returned citizen voting for the 1st time. She was so excited she's jumping up and down.

[Dream Girl]

1. Wat is a returned citizen

[mcar]

3. Former felon

Just had her voting rights restored.

[NoMoreRepugs]

4. Outstanding!!! Congrats to her, know what it feels like.

[gristy]

12. OMgosh

How exciting and wonderful! She's paid her debt, and now she can VOTE!

oh, got something in my eye here...

[fierywoman]

2. Sweet!

[barbtries]

5. returned citizen?

i looked it up and it's what i thought it probably was: a felon who got her voting rights back. now i'm in tears too

[mcar]

6. Her joy filled the room

[barbtries]

7. i can imagine!

i wish i knew her whole back story, how many years she's been out and shut out of the vote. what state?

[mcar]

8. Florida

[barbtries]

10. that's what i wanted to know!

it's gotta be especially sweet in FL with the republicans trying so hard and failing to make it happen.

[spooky3]

16. thank you, Mike Bloomberg for investing $ in FL and helping pay some fines. nt

[Evolve Dammit]

17. Yes indeed. He made good on his commitment.

[mtngirl47]

18. LeBron James helped too! n/t

[spooky3]

19. yes, thanks to him too! nt

[Fla Dem]

27. It was an amendment in the 2018 midterm. Was approved overwhelmingly by Fl citizens.

Was a big surprise for some Republican politicians. Never thought it would pass. They claim the voters didn't understand the amendment. LOL.

Over 1 Million Florida Felons Win Right To Vote With Amendment 4
November 7, 20182:46 AM ET
Tim Mak in 2018.

In a key ballot initiative, Florida will restore voting rights to citizens convicted of certain felonies after they have served their sentences, including prison terms, parole and probationary periods, AP has projected.

Voting rights will not be restored to those convicted of murder or felony sexual offenses.

Approximately 1.5 million people are currently barred from voting in the state because of a past felony conviction — a figure representing about 10 percent of Florida's adult population.

More>>>>
https://www.npr.org/2018/11/07/665031366/over-a-million-florida-ex-felons-win-right-to-vote-with-amendment-4

[whopis01]

30. Oh wow - I didn't realize that's what it meant.

That's fantastic. Thanks for explaining that.

[aggiesal]

31. This is always a good thing ...

but I'm of the opinion that even if you're felon, you shouldn't lose your voting right,
they're still citizens and their representative are making decisions that affect them too.

Unless you're convicted of murder, or when someone loses their life.
Because they took someone else's life and their rights when they died.

But after serving time, the felon should have their voting rights restored
regardless if they murdered, because they've served their time.

Just how I look at it.

I'm extremely happy for the "returned citizen" in this story.

[lunatica]

33. I agree!

Becoming a full citizen again should be a right if you’ve paid for your crimes. It’s giving someone redemption, and a great new chance to get it right.

[soldierant]

36. I think one of the arguments on enfranchisement issues

is "No taxation without representation." And it probably doesn't have as much legal force as it sounds like ... but it has great emotional appeal.

They probably are not paying taxes while in prison (especially the ones who least deserve to be there) ... but it might almost be worth setting up a withholding system of, say, a penny on ever $5 that they earn at 60 cents a day, just to make them technically taxpayers.

[aggiesal]

37. They have a problem in DC. n/t

[soldierant]

40. Agrred. Also in Puerto Rico.

I'm all for fixing those problems.

[aggiesal]

41. Personally I don't think DC should be a state ...

I do believe that they should have a voting member in the House, maybe 2
and a voting member of the Senate but there is a reason it's called the
District Of Columbia.

That's because it's on Federal Land. Making it a state creates
a level of democracy that our forefathers never wanted for the 10 mile x 10 mile
federal land it sits on. Plus they now don't have to worry about their safety
from unruly mobs, like in Philadelphia during the Continental Congress.

When the Constitution was written, the citizens of Philadelphia were getting
anxious of the Continental Congress to release the document that it almost
got violent. The Philadelphia police wouldn't do anything to stop it because they
didn't have authority, that concerned the members of Congress about their safety.

That's why they created DC, so that the federal government could have
authority and jurisdiction over the land where they governed.
George Washington was given the task to find a 10 mile x 10 mile piece of land
along the Potomac, and he turned it sideways to include both the port of
Alexandria on the Virginia side and Georgetown on the Maryland side.

Some additional details were left out to protect the innocent.

[soldierant]

42. You make a good case

but you also admit they need representation /that's all i'd be asking.

I would prefer one rep and two Senators. But some kind of representation, definitely.

[aggiesal]

43. Agreed, we are on the same page ...

They currently have 1 member in congress and 1 member in the senate,
but they are both non-voting representatives.

[unblock]

9. that's great; glad we're making progress on breaking disenfranchisement. the whole concept stinks.

there's *zero* merit to any government taking away voting rights other than for change of jurisdiction.

it has absolutely nothing to do with criminal justice whatsoever and everything to do with politicians protecting their own partisan power. it's 100% corrupt.

no government should have the power to take away voting rights based on criminal activity or anything else other than you no longer living in that jurisdiction.

it should be considered an inalienable right because the legitimacy of government flows from the people, not the other way around.

[duhneece]

24. Two states allow voting in prison

All 50 states have different laws so we need a federal law to change that. We can do it

[LizBeth]

11. Ahhh, the best.

[onecaliberal]

13. Love this!

[BlueNProud]

14. Thank you for your work

[Ford_Prefect]

15. She certainly is what it's all supposed to be about, eh? Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!

[BobTheSubgenius]

20. A small, but potent microcosm of what every voter should be feeling.

Especially on the blue side of the aisle. Time to reclaim the country!!!!

[SheltieLover]

21. Awwwwww!

That is so cool!

I know how she feels! I voted 2-1/2 weeks ago & I'm still

[duhneece]

22. Your tears are my tears

I’m so glad you experienced that and shared it. Another policy we can change.

[LittleGirl]

25. Ditto, tears! eom

[dchill]

23. Thank you for this.

[electric_blue68]

26. Wow. Thanks for letting us know. Wonderful for her.

[Fla Dem]

28. Thank you for what you're doing. Glad you had a rewarding experience.

[calimary]

29. LOVE it!

[JohnnyRingo]

32. Maybe she has to pee.

I know I never think to go before I get in a long line.

I'm kidding. I'm glad you're having fun.

[UCmeNdc]

34. This is the way democracy should work.

[Gothmog]

35. This makes me smile

[niyad]

38. Happy tears here? Thank you so much for sharing!

[Ligyron]

39. Hell. most were put in prison for just smoking weed while black.

A practice that is legal for adults now in many states. They shouldn't have been put there in the first place.