Why Can't Ex-Felons Vote?

[Dinger]

I found this article (had it bookmarked) and when I read it again, I wondered too, why can't ex-felns vote?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9785-2004Aug17.html

To me, this is the key point:

"But last year Alabama Republican Party Chairman Marty Connors stated a bald truth: "As frank as I can be," he said, "we're opposed to because felons don't tend to vote Republican." He is right: People with low incomes, low education or minority status -- all benchmarks of convict populations -- vote Democratic 65 to 90 percent of the time. "

[bluestateguy]

1. You know how it works

Why, surely then all those ex-felons will band together and vote for soft on crime candidates :eyes:

The thing is, I bet Mr. Connors and his ilk probably all think of themselves as good Christians. Do they still not believe in forgiveness even after a person has served their sentence and paid the consequences for their crimes?

[BlueJazz]

2. I never have understood why we (in this country) keep...

..punishing people LONG after they have paid their price to society.

...Especially when so many white-collar crooks get a free pass...

[Pachamama]

3. My understanding is that its only the case in a few states that do that

States like Florida have implimented laws that state state ex-felons cannot vote. Other states allow people that have served their time to vote if they are no longer serving time or on parole.

The reality is that the majority of "ex-felons" are minorities and we all know who that minorities tend to vote for, so its really just another Jim Crow law....I don't know the breakdown, but I'm willing to bet you that its primarily southern states that have these rules, with a few exceptions.

:eyes:

[Eric J in MN]

4. In Vermont, and Maine, even people in prison can vote.

That is how it should be in all fifty states.

Otherwise, people who live in houses in a district with a big prison get more power than they should have.

My blog article on this, which includes a link to a Flash video:
http://www.moveleft.com/moveleft_essay_2005_01_11_voting_rights_for_ex_felons_the_video.asp

[Eric J in MN]

12. You can go straight to the Flash video

by clicking below:

Flash on letting ex-felons vote

[Dinger]

14. I Agree .. .

I think the only requirement for voting should be that you have to be a citizen of the United States.

[AntiCoup2K4]

5. In many states, they can

Some automatically restore voting rights once their sentence is served. In other states, the ex-con has to petition the court to reinstate their rights, but it's usually not a problem.

Connors called it correctly... there aren't a lot of Rich Republicans behind bars.

[FromTheLeft]

6. Personally...

I believe that once some was has paid their debt they should be fully restored to society and regain all rights including that with which to vote. While in prison though they are being removed from society for wrong doing against it and therefore should not have a say in the government running it. I also believe that they shouldn't be counted in the Census for redistricting.

[Bridget Burke]

7. Racism is considered the main reason.

Since white folks tend to be able to avoid better lawyers--& avoid becoming felons. Perhaps this is a bit simplistic. Some non-Southern states also forbid ex-felons from voting. And Texas lets them vote two years after finishing their sentence.

[Jack Bone]

8. Could it be....Jury Duty?

In Indiana, my home, Jury Duty is tied into Voters Registration...
could it be that because an Ex-Felon would unable to be on a jury also mean they should not vote?

just an observation...not that I agree w/ it...but I've always thought that was the reason why..

[ISUGRADIA]

9. Probably Not

Voter reg is one source, others include driver licence and property records in many states so felons are often called to jury duty but do not serve. Main reason is still racial stemming out of post civil war attempts by southerners to keep blacks from voting.

[LiberalFighter]

16. Drivers License is also suppose to be used in Indiana

No longer just registered voters for jury duty.

[Lexingtonian]

10. it's six states

http://www.righttovote.org/

Florida is easily the greatest travesty among the lot. Jeb Bush has been quite remarkably inefficient at pardoning even the most reasonable petitions. That's the particular injustice/crime I hold most against that man.

[Just Me]

11. Considering we have mass murderers and robbers in charge of this nation,..

,...there is NO REASON WHATSOEVER that, once a person "serves his/her time", the power to vote should be reinstated!!!

[Selatius]

13. These laws are remnants of JIM CROW

Most prisoners are minorities. Historically, they were black.

[greendog]

15. Corporate felons can own media networks and influence elections.

General Electric has been convicted of multiple felonies. They've dumped PCB's in the Hudson River. They've over billed the taxpayers on military contracts.

Yet they are allowed to own NBC and MSNBC and participate in our electoral process.

I wonder what they think about letting non-corporate felons participate in our elections?

[Sugarbleus]

17. Unless they are members of the "Aryan Nation"

Believe it or not, there are LOTS of "White is Right" types in Prison. The type that "like" kicking ass and taking names, they'd vote for bush because he's such a Nazi, anti-woman, Arab/Islam hater, and a "war monger".

The remainder of the prison population could, conceivably, vote liberal---IF the prevailing "Liberal" agenda isn't so rabidly anti-drugs, "tough on crime" etc... like those of recent years. Gray Davis, Former Gov of Calif., was tougher on crime (drug offenses and all) then the Jerkenator is right now. So, I don't get the argument/logic of the article.

In some states, calif included, an ex felon can vote after a certain amount of time, and after having completed parole. In some cases the ex Felon has to go have their records "cleaned up" in order to vote again.

I read something somewhere that stated at least ONE state let the felons vote WHILE INSIDE. Wow :shrug: