Another thing we need to do in Ohio

[roseBudd]

There is a lot of misinformation in the black community regarding felon voting rights. We need to get the word out that ONLY felons currently serving their sentences are ineligible to vote. This is one of the ways the GOP suppresses the black vote and this has been going on in Ohio.

[FatSlob]

1. Huh? I didn't know that.

I'm calling the board of elections.

[FatSlob]

2. It is true.

That's nuts. I'm shocked that felons can vote.

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

3. Paroled Felons can vote...

those who are currently incarcerated are not allowed. Once you're set free, your voting rights are restored.

[FatSlob]

4. Just doesn't seem right.

I'm appalled that such people can vote.

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

5. Are you serious?

I hope not. You could be convicted of a felony as the result of a bar fight when you're twenty years old, then barred from voting ever again. Society can't -- and shouldn't -- make an entire caste of second-class citizens based upon their bad acts from years before.

[FatSlob]

6. I am serious.

Felons should be forever barred the vote except upon petition to have a restoration of rights by the judge who tried the original case (or the successor of the judge). Felons usually can't hold positions of public trust, and can't own firearms, they should not be permitted to vote, either.

[Kolesar]

7. Equivalency to gun rights issue appears ... eom

[FatSlob]

8. Whatever.

Felons should not be able to hold any position of public trust, should not vote, should not be able to own or posess firearms, should not be trusted. They have renounced some of their rights by way of their abhorrent criminal behaviour. Restoration of rights only by petition to judge or judge's successor.

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

9. Abhorrent Criminal behavior?

According to the Justice Department, nearly a third of all convicted felons don't even receive jail time because their offenses aren't considered serious enough to spend the taxpayers' dollar to to incarcerate them. In some states, passing a bad check can be grounds for a felony conviction.

It's a foundation of the American justice system that once an individual pays his debt to society, he can rejoin the community with all rights restored. Anything less than that creates a permanent semi-criminal underclass -- and I believe that's true for both voting rights and gun ownership.

[AngryOldDem]

11. Have to disagree with you here

If they have served their time, paid their debt to society, they deserve to return to that society and not feel perpetually ostracized. Otherwise, you're telling them that the only place they belong is in prison, and guess what -- that's where they'll return.

If they get a job, get a home -- in short, do all the things as we as "law-abiding" citizens do, don't you think that they also have a say in who governs them, how high their taxes are, etc?

That's why it's been so easy to disenfranchise ex-cons. They come out already feeling like they don't belong. With your mindset, why let them free? They might as well stay behind bars.

To me, voting is a non-negotiable issue.

Not meant as a slam, just a difference of opinion.

ON EDIT: Spelling gaffe

[drfemoe]

14. Can they hold a job?

Or is that verboten as well?

[T Bone]

15. What about the concept of serving your time

So someone who was convicted, served hard time, serving probation in a clean and acceptable manner has not paid their debt to society?
If someone pays their debt they are still a bum? Why would anyone ever attempt to reform and rehabilitate themselves if confronted with a society showcasing attitudes like yours?

[Eurobabe]

12. Sorry, but I disagree with you on that one...

These people have paid their debt to society. They should be allowed to vote when they upon released from prison.

What about people who are innocent but agree to plea bargain for reduced sentence, and then we find out they were wrongfully accused? Have read or seen some of the stories about how screwed up our justice dept. is these days?

This is bullshit.

[stavka]

17. ...please Cocaine POSSESSION is a felony in Ohio

So you got pinched in 1988 smoking rock - you never vote again?

You were in a car with four guys, some coke was in the glove box - you all lose the vote.

[roseBudd]

10. The point is thta felon disenfranchisement has it's genesis

in Jim Crow. Seven states ban felons from voting, all overwhelmingly southern.


What should piss you off is the GOP lying to suppress likely democratic votes

http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/08/18/loc_felonvote18.html

Ex-cons misled on voting, suit says
Group requests state send letters about rights

snip

But according to the lawsuit, the boards of elections in all 88 Ohio counties routinely give out bad advice when felons call to ask about registering to vote.

Singleton said testers working on behalf of his group called the board of elections in each county to seek advice about registration. And in every county, he said, officials inaccurately stated that felons must register in person, must wait until they complete parole or must fill out special forms to restore their voting rights.

In Hamilton County, the suit claims, registration forms from felons were rejected if they were mailed in without attached "documentation restoring voting rights."

[Blue-Jay]

13. What if the felony conviction is for

owning an illegal firearm?

[stavka]

16. Felon status and voting rights vary from state to state

I hope Ohio is one of those states that automatically allows those no longer on parole to register to vote.

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

18. Upon release from confinement...

Parolees are allowed to vote in Ohio