Ex-Cons Say They Want to Vote

Fox News ^ | 10.01.02

[Enemy Of The State]

WASHINGTON

[Enemy Of The State]

Seems to me that it would be unconstitutional to take away the rights of anyone to vote. If they have paid their debt to society and continue to pay taxes to the government why should they not be allowed to vote...being an ex-con does not mean your not an American citizen

[Libloather]

"I've changed my life and I'm a productive citizen, yet I feel that I'm without citizenship"...

I have a question for a lawyer - once convicted, do felons lose their citizenship?

[Sungirl]

I think that it should depend on the crime.....

[Trickyguy]

The IQ of the average prisoner is 93...not being allowed to
vote is a good law.

[Agent Smith]

OK, The dead and illegals are two the DemocRATS biggest and most loyal voting blocks. What mechanism actually prevents felons from just registering and voting? Please forgive my ignorance.

[Enemy Of The State]

"I think it should depend on the crime"

I think thats bullshit!

Can you show me anything in the constitution which says the govt. has a right to deny anyone a voice in their govt.

As I said before...they serve their time and pay their debt to society yet the government is allowed to extort taxes from them if they are working as a productive member of society without allowing them a voice in saying where their money goes? That in my opinion is a form of double jeapordy!

[17th Miss Regt]

A felon has by definition committed a major offense against society. Society regards the felon as one who has forfieted some of their rights by their behavior. This is a form of punishment over and above their sentence.

[Enemy Of The State]

"not being allowed to vote is a good law."

Sounds like your IQ isn't exactly soaring to high if you approve of taking someones "God-given" right to vote.

[copycat]

People in Hell want ice-water.

[Sungirl]

Hardly any of them 'serve their time'. And if you want to encourage people to commit felonies...you are going about it the RIGHT way.

[Enemy Of The State]

"A felon has by definition committed a major offense against society. Society regards the felon as one who has forfieted some of their rights by their behavior."

Yes, they forfeit their rights while they are serving time. Once time is served, their debt is considered paid according to law.

"This is a form of punishment over and above their sentence."

Exactly! Unconstitutional!

[mj1234]

Sort of agree---but...why do you lose your second amendment
rights forever, if you are convicted of a felony assault--
even if no jail time seen.I can't believe with the Motor Voter laws of today this guy couldn't just walk in and sign up---must be on probation or something.

[Enemy Of The State]

I t doesnt matter if you or I or anyone else believes that their sentence was long enough...the FACT is that there is no constitutional grounding for taking away someones RIGHT to vote! Period!

[FryingPan101]

That's all we need. More Democrats.

[17th Miss Regt]

If we assert that the right to vote is God-given, then age limits on voting make no sense. You seem to be arguing that prison time should be the only sanction available to society for evil behavior. I will grant you that a felon may be working and paying taxes, but the felon has a history of bad behavior. This falls under the "fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me" rubrics.

[Enemy Of The State]

"why do you lose your second amendment rights forever, if you are convicted of a felony assault-- "

That is a heap of crap too! The govt. is continually adding offenses which are considered a felony, IMHO this is just another tactic of disarming American citizens. Tax evasion is a 'felony', one that under the 'rule of law' forces you to give up your 2nd amendment right.

[Trickyguy]

Sounds like your IQ's in the basement if you think the right to vote is God-given.

[tcostell]

If they are so enamored with reform, I'd be willing to go along with a 15 year suspension of voting rights after a felony conviction. (that's 15 years from release date, release on parole counts too if they fly right)

I see no reason why we can't incorporate a second chance for those individuals who really do make a mistake, and then change their lives. We just have to make sure that it isn't abused by the others who don't.

(I can see Jesse yelling now claiming that since most repeat offenders are black, it's a racist policy to require people to go 15 years...blah, blah, blah)

[Enemy Of The State]

acording to the constitution the rights of the people are considered "God given" and the powers of the govt. are given by the people. Read it! maybe it will rise your IQ