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VANITY: Do you think felons should be allowed to vote?
me

Posted on 11/01/2003 4:01:08 PM PST by yonif

A friend of mine was wondering about this topic and discussed it with me.

Do you think felons (those in jail and those who are "reformed") should be allowed to vote (not felons convicted of voter relating crime)?

There are those countries, such as Israel, which allow felons to vote (both in and out of prison, as long as they were not convicted of voter related crimes).

What do you think? Why is it a good or bad idea?


TOPICS: Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: felons; voting
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To: isthisnickcool
I'd advocate just making people be able to know the names of the presidential and vice presidential nominees of both major parties. It'd eliminate all of the people you talked about, plus a few others.
21 posted on 11/01/2003 4:16:10 PM PST by WinOne4TheGipper (Using Occam's Razor to shave the hairy beast of liberalism...)
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To: yonif
If one has paid their debt to society, yes, they should be allowed to vote.
22 posted on 11/01/2003 4:17:24 PM PST by Flyer (You get more with a smile, a kind word and a gun than with a smile and a kind word)
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To: boris
The Democratic Party, recognizing that felons will vote 100% Dem, are all in favor.

Good point Boris! Perhaps a little in depth discussion on your reasoning would make for an even more fruitful thread!

23 posted on 11/01/2003 4:19:16 PM PST by EGPWS
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To: yonif
Short Answer: NO!

Long Answer: %^&%*#@W$@#!@$^ NO!

24 posted on 11/01/2003 4:19:37 PM PST by Old Sarge (Serving You... on Operation Noble Eagle!)
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To: yonif
Repeat felons, no.

Reformed one-time felons, yes ... given a decent interval of time and a citizen's review panel in which the ex-con pleads his or her case.
25 posted on 11/01/2003 4:21:11 PM PST by AngrySpud (Behold, I am The Anti-Crust (Anti-Hillary))
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To: yonif
No. IMHO, felons have lost their right to vote by committing such grievous acts against society.
26 posted on 11/01/2003 4:21:13 PM PST by nicmarlo
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To: winker; yonif
After reading your posts I have changed my mind. Felons are difficult to reform. Their voting block would destroy a civilization. They should not ever be allowed to vote.
27 posted on 11/01/2003 4:21:17 PM PST by I got the rope
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To: yonif
After serving all their time, if they keep their nose clean for 10-15 years, maybe. That means out of prison for 15 years without another issue arising.
28 posted on 11/01/2003 4:21:50 PM PST by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: nicmarlo
I think the loss of voting rights is incentive not to commit the crime in the first place.
29 posted on 11/01/2003 4:23:45 PM PST by WinOne4TheGipper (Have you paid your debt to society yet? Really? My bank account hasn't expanded...)
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To: Flyer
If one has paid their debt to society, yes, they should be allowed to vote.

If one is a felon, would paying one's debt to society change a felons mindset to voting sensibly without a felon's mindset?

30 posted on 11/01/2003 4:25:36 PM PST by EGPWS
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To: EGPWS
would paying one's debt to society change a felons mindset to voting sensibly without a felon's mindset?

We don't require sensibility from any voters.

31 posted on 11/01/2003 4:27:46 PM PST by Flyer (You get more with a smile, a kind word and a gun than with a smile and a kind word)
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To: I got the rope
Not those in jail, but those who have paid for their crimes yes.

For society or for the victim(s)?
32 posted on 11/01/2003 4:30:46 PM PST by jwh_Denver (What a night! Ran over 2 taglines but only one was moving, that's 15 points!)
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To: yonif
Yes. If a felon has paid for his crime, he should have all of his former rights restored. If there is any doubt, then the length of prison sentences should be called into question.
33 posted on 11/01/2003 4:31:29 PM PST by Dec31,1999
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To: will1776
I think the loss of voting rights is incentive not to commit the crime in the first place.

I don't think most of the people committing felonies care about their right to vote. The people that care about their votes are the people that want the votes.

34 posted on 11/01/2003 4:31:52 PM PST by ken in texas (Tag line space for rent...)
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To: yonif
NO voting rights should be restored until the full sentence is served , that includes time on parole.
35 posted on 11/01/2003 4:33:06 PM PST by Peace will be here soon (Go Irish !!! Beat those Frenchies !!!!)
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To: I got the rope
The loss of your voting rights is part of the debt.
36 posted on 11/01/2003 4:33:16 PM PST by WinOne4TheGipper (Have you paid your debt to society yet? Really? My bank account hasn't expanded...)
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To: yonif
Once they have completed their period of probation or parole, then yes.
37 posted on 11/01/2003 4:33:34 PM PST by AntiGuv (When the countdown hits zero, something's gonna happen..)
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To: nicmarlo; AngrySpud
No. IMHO, felons have lost their right to vote by committing such grievous acts against society.

Reformed one-time felons, yes ... given a decent interval of time and a citizen's review panel in which the ex-con pleads his or her case.

Sounds like a dual between "gray area thinking" and "black and white" thinking. Good and bad vs. good sometimes and bad sometimes depending on the situation.

38 posted on 11/01/2003 4:33:36 PM PST by EGPWS
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To: AntiGuv
Their right to bear arms should also be restored as well, BTW. If they are not suited to exercise all the rights & responsibilities of any other citizen, then they should not be off probation or parole. If they are, then they should be as free as the next person. They've 'paid their debt' to society.
39 posted on 11/01/2003 4:35:10 PM PST by AntiGuv (When the countdown hits zero, something's gonna happen..)
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To: ken in texas
I don't think most of the people committing felonies care about their right to vote. The people that care about their votes are the people that want the votes.

Well said! : )

40 posted on 11/01/2003 4:36:05 PM PST by EGPWS
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