Before Census, a Debate Over Prisoners

[ccharles000]

NEW YORK -- Elizabeth O'C. Little, a Republican state senator, represents a rural Upstate district larger in square miles than Rhode Island and Connecticut combined. But more than 13,500 of her constituents are not living there by choice, they could not vote for her if they wanted to, and most will leave the first chance they get.

Those unwilling constituents are incarcerated in one of 13 prisons -- 12 state and one federal -- that have given her district the nickname "Little Siberia." Without the prisoners, the district, which stretches to the Canadian border, may not have the minimum population required to earn a seat in the state Senate.

And while the inmates live behind bars, there is a recurring question as to whether prison is where they actually "reside."

In Little's opinion, the inmates reside in her 45th District, and her district is where they should be counted as residents during the 2010 Census.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/25/AR2009042501403.html

[ieoeja]

1. If you can't vote, you shouldn't count.

Counting slaves 3/5th in the original Constitution was a compromise with the slavers -- they should have counted ZERO since they were getting ZERO representation out of being counted. This is almost as bad, but completely unnecessary. The US would have fallen apart before it ever got started without some compromises. I don't see states seceeding over righting this wrong.

[w4rma]

2. I agree. They should either be able to vote, or they should not count for that district.

There should be zero incentives for any politician to try to lock as many people up as they can.