General Discussion

MH1

(19,156 posts)

90. Yes, unless their crime was voter fraud or related to election fraud.

Sat Nov 21, 2015, 09:05 PM

Nov 2015

The only felons who should not regain the right to vote after completing their sentence, is those whose crimes involved undermining the election process.

Excluding the election-related category -

I think even felons on parole or otherwise not incarcerated should also have the right to vote.

The only reason incarcerated felons shouldn't have the "right" to vote is the expense to the taxpayer. I'm not firm on that though. If the consensus was to, for example, allow felons in prison to cast absentee ballots, I wouldn't fight it. But it's not something I would fight for, either.

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How does everyone feel about felon voting rights? [View all] UglyGreed Nov 2015 OP

Yes. The Velveteen Ocelot Nov 2015 #1

+ struggle4progress Nov 2015 #51

Never understood why the could not. trumad Nov 2015 #2

Who or what does it UglyGreed Nov 2015 #16

Republicans generally NobodyHere Nov 2015 #78

America likes to extract as much flesh from their punishment as they can. LiberalArkie Nov 2015 #26

+1 katsy Nov 2015 #85

Yes, they should. Scootaloo Nov 2015 #3

I believe in that quaint notion of being able to have 'paid your debt to society'. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Nov 2015 #4

Yes Hayduke Bomgarte Nov 2015 #5

Yes, they are citizens. Apparently it is presumed that they would vote D corkhead Nov 2015 #6

They've paid their debt to society meow2u3 Nov 2015 #7

Yes. femmocrat Nov 2015 #8

lol Go Vols Nov 2015 #144

Absolutely tk2kewl Nov 2015 #9

Yes. They're still citizens. Vinca Nov 2015 #10

Let them vote even while they're in prison. That's what Vermont does. Eric J in MN Nov 2015 #11

This is a very important point UglyGreed Nov 2015 #14

Maine also lets felons vote from prison via absentee ballot. Zing Zing Zingbah Nov 2015 #23

+1 MadrasT Nov 2015 #44

This is the correct approach! immoderate Nov 2015 #67

If they are counted as constituents, they should be allowed to vote. JeffHead Nov 2015 #101

Exactly. treestar Nov 2015 #126

Great point! nt City Lights Nov 2015 #128

Yes. Many felons are people who are being failed by the current system. femmedem Nov 2015 #12

Yes catrose Nov 2015 #13

yes. nt redwitch Nov 2015 #15

Yes. Disenfranchisement constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. PatrickforO Nov 2015 #17

What YOU said.. annabanana Nov 2015 #34

They did their time, so why are they still being punished? Rex Nov 2015 #18

Yes. nt bemildred Nov 2015 #19

Of course. Even in prison they should. uppityperson Nov 2015 #20

Yes JonathanRackham Nov 2015 #21

Yes mcar Nov 2015 #22

Oh, sure, once the debt to society is repaid, they should have all their rights restored. Warpy Nov 2015 #24

What ryan_cats Nov 2015 #25

Does his UglyGreed Nov 2015 #32

Yes Boomer Nov 2015 #38

If he's placed on "lifetime parole?" No. MADem Nov 2015 #39

How about never letting him out? Reter Nov 2015 #98

Outliers should not drive policy. nt RedCappedBandit Nov 2015 #120

No. They should be allowed to vote while serving their time too n/t arcane1 Nov 2015 #27

YES... Mike Nelson Nov 2015 #28

Yes Boomer Nov 2015 #29

a debt paid is a debt paid annabanana Nov 2015 #30

I wonder how Ms Clintron feels about this question? tularetom Nov 2015 #31

I know I'm against the UglyGreed Nov 2015 #36

DO you wonder? REALLY? Here, let me google that for you!!!! MADem Nov 2015 #42

We'll see tularetom Nov 2015 #48

Yeah, she wrote that legislation because she was insincere. MADem Nov 2015 #50

Sticks and stones tularetom Nov 2015 #55

Yes (nt) bigwillq Nov 2015 #33

Served their time, discharged from any parole supervision, and free and clear of any legal MADem Nov 2015 #35

Who does it hurt UglyGreed Nov 2015 #41

There should be consequences to criminal conduct. We take away 'rights' from people who MADem Nov 2015 #47

It HELPS criminals understand that when they fuck up, they lose valuable things. MADem Nov 2015 #53

Well these laws UglyGreed Nov 2015 #71

I disagree. You abuse society, you don't deserve the benefits of it. Like freedom and voting. MADem Nov 2015 #96

How do you UglyGreed Nov 2015 #129

Not a fan. I can understand how, in some cases, people have an urge for vengeance, MADem Nov 2015 #134

Thanks for the UglyGreed Nov 2015 #135

gonna rec. . . .n/t annabanana Nov 2015 #37

Absolutely. Blue_In_AK Nov 2015 #40

If a felon is a citizen of voting age, Rebkeh Nov 2015 #43

It doesn't end if you're arrested. It ends when you are convicted of a felony, and in some states MADem Nov 2015 #49

Still though, Rebkeh Nov 2015 #60

I disagree. It's a right. We abrogate rights when people commit crimes (liberty being the biggie). MADem Nov 2015 #62

You want prisoners on your jury? GeorgeGist Nov 2015 #136

Depends on the trial Rebkeh Nov 2015 #143

absolutely drray23 Nov 2015 #45

Like the right to be free? GeorgeGist Nov 2015 #137

Yes Liberal_in_LA Nov 2015 #46

I think people should be able to vote while incarcerated, let alone after petronius Nov 2015 #52

I agree loyalsister Nov 2015 #59

Then why incarcerate them? GeorgeGist Nov 2015 #138

Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 2015 #54

I'm against punishing people after they have served their sentence 951-Riverside Nov 2015 #56

Yes. They should never have had their rights taken away in the first place. CharlotteVale Nov 2015 #57

Yes. nt LiberalElite Nov 2015 #58

Of course. They're citizens. hifiguy Nov 2015 #61

Posting a question to DU is NOT going to change that. alphafemale Nov 2015 #63

I believe the suspension of voting rights should be lifelong nationwide. Chan790 Nov 2015 #64

Thank jeebus it's a minority, too. Iggo Nov 2015 #108

Yes, I conceded that upfront. Chan790 Nov 2015 #115

Why not include their right to be free? GeorgeGist Nov 2015 #139

They are free. Chan790 Nov 2015 #148

Yes. Warren Stupidity Nov 2015 #65

Yes of course madokie Nov 2015 #66

All US citizens should have the right to vote. Period. MerryBlooms Nov 2015 #68

Intertwine gun rights to voting... beevul Nov 2015 #69

I was not going to UglyGreed Nov 2015 #74

Rights are rights. beevul Nov 2015 #75

I know what you are UglyGreed Nov 2015 #76

I can understand that. beevul Nov 2015 #80

I'm recovering UglyGreed Nov 2015 #84

yes Marrah_G Nov 2015 #70

Yes. nt valerief Nov 2015 #72

Of course. nt SusanCalvin Nov 2015 #73

Yes. They are a member of society. Hoyt Nov 2015 #77

I don't see why not Rosa Luxemburg Nov 2015 #79

Yes TIME TO PANIC Nov 2015 #81

Yes. Pathwalker Nov 2015 #82

Absolutely. nt cyberswede Nov 2015 #83

Yes. peacebird Nov 2015 #86

Why do they lose the right to vote even while incarceated? Half-Century Man Nov 2015 #87

Yes Comatose Sphagetti Nov 2015 #88

Of Course. nt BootinUp Nov 2015 #89

Yes, unless their crime was voter fraud or related to election fraud. MH1 Nov 2015 #90

They should be allowed to vote even while imprisoned. n/t JimDandy Nov 2015 #91

Felon disenfranchisement is a holdover from the Jim Crow days Gothmog Nov 2015 #92

They should be allowed to vote after they've served their time and are done with their punishment. Igel Nov 2015 #93

Yes. nt hay rick Nov 2015 #94

Yes. They are still citizens. Generic Brad Nov 2015 #95

I am for it, Main and Vermont allow you to vote while in jail. Here is a link to a page with each Todays_Illusion Nov 2015 #97

Yes. we can do it Nov 2015 #99

Gun ownership? malcolmboeing Nov 2015 #100

Doesn't the type of felony matter? ColesCountyDem Nov 2015 #146

Yes. I'm one. I live in California. I vote. NBachers Nov 2015 #102

Of course. They've "paid their debt to society" Greybnk48 Nov 2015 #103

Yes. Once they're done.. one_voice Nov 2015 #104

YES!!! burrowowl Nov 2015 #105

Yes. StrayKat Nov 2015 #106

Yes, that is the whole idea behing paying your sentence. gvstn Nov 2015 #107

Yes, that is a remnant of Jim Crow nadinbrzezinski Nov 2015 #109

I always thought that people who are in prison could vote! akbacchus_BC Nov 2015 #110

Paid your debt, voting rights should be restored. Hepburn Nov 2015 #111

Yes, they should be allowed to vote after they are released from prison or jail davidpdx Nov 2015 #112

It shouldn't be an automatic... TipTok Nov 2015 #113

If a person is convicted of possessing an amount of marijuana Eric J in MN Nov 2015 #118

An example of where it likely wouldn't be appropriate... TipTok Nov 2015 #147

I think that prisons should be used to punish Eric J in MN Nov 2015 #149

Under what exceptions would you deny VR? n/t fredamae Nov 2015 #133

Yes, without hesitation. Eom flor-de-jasmim Nov 2015 #114

Yes. hobbit709 Nov 2015 #116

Restore one right, restore them ALL. cherokeeprogressive Nov 2015 #117

They've paid their dues and we should not strip them of their right to vote. nt RedCappedBandit Nov 2015 #119

I believe all rights should be restored, including 2A... Marengo Nov 2015 #121

Yes. bluedigger Nov 2015 #122

Sure, why not? /NT DemocratSinceBirth Nov 2015 #123

Yes me b zola Nov 2015 #124

Yes. If out they should be full members of society again treestar Nov 2015 #125

Yes. They are allowed to live next door to me and you. Why not to vote? merrily Nov 2015 #127

Yep. Bonx Nov 2015 #130

Felony voter disenfranchisement is an incentive for our prison industrial complex growing!... cascadiance Nov 2015 #131

Absolutely fredamae Nov 2015 #132

Yes nt riderinthestorm Nov 2015 #140

Of course they should be allowed to vote. tabasco Nov 2015 #141

Maybe TeddyR Nov 2015 #142

Yes. BainsBane Nov 2015 #145

MN Law Eric J in MN Nov 2015 #150

Yes, and restore their right to own a gun wain Nov 2015 #151