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

me

[WinOne4TheGipper]

I don't think most of the people committing felonies care about their right to vote.
Exactly why this debate shouldn't matter. They don't care. They gave it up.

[SJSAMPLE]

Yes.
Some here think that you're no longer part of society, even after you're paroled. They couldn't be more wrong.

You can't put MILLIONS of people back into circulation and continually treat them as second-class citizens. They've already got enough burden being convicted felons.

I'm no bleeding heart, but you've got to offer some hope for redemption, or there's no point in setting them free. I don't know if this should extend to other liberties (civil rights), like firearm ownership. That might be my hypocrisy, I haven't figured that part out, yet ;)

[nicmarlo]

It's just my opinion, of course, but someone who has committed a felon has already shown him/herself to have complete disregard for the society in which he/she lives, whether that be "white collar" crime or otherwise. The person may be punished for their bad behavior, but that doesn't make the person regenerate into a less selfish, self-centered, self-gratifying individual.

Also, with the plea bargains, reduced sentences, or letting some out early because of "good behavior" (simply because, in some cases, there's not enough room in to keep them in jail)....are many of these "reformed" ex-cons really reformed? I think not.

[EGPWS]

You can't put MILLIONS of people back into circulation and continually treat them as second-class citizens. They've already got "achieved on their own without society forcing it upon them" enough burden being convicted felons.

[boris]

"So you believe they shouldn't both in jail and after they finish their sentence?"

I believe you should learn to post coherent sentences in English before you have the right to post.

--Boris

[blam]

Only people who pay taxes should be allowed to vote.

[boris]

"After the prisoner has paid his debt to society, he should be allowed to vote, and to become a productive citizen."

See my #15. Since loss of the right to vote is part of the punishment a felon continues to pay his debt even after he is released. He is reminded at each election of his crime(s) and why he cannot--should not--be permitted to participate in the greater society's political venue.

--Boris

[CholeraJoe]

I agree with Slim. If someone has served their sentence and demonstrated responsibility over a period of time, voting rights should be restored unless they have been convicted of a voting or malfeasance in public office offense. Unless someone has been convicted of a gun-related offense, their gun ownership rights should be restored.

On the other hand, I believe that either an honorable military service tour, or a tough citizenship test should be a prerequisite to ever exercising the voting franchise. Call me a radical, flame me if you will, but this nation needs a better informed electorate.

[antiRepublicrat]

you don't want repeat crimianls voting for politicians

No kidding. If that were to happen, it could be that the politicians who get elected are self-serving criminals with no regard for the Constitution or the people they are supposed to serve.

Hey, wait a minute...

[yonif]

"So you believe they shouldn't both in jail and after they finish their sentence?"

I thought it was coherent. Here is what I meant:

So you believe they shouldn't (be allowed to vote) both in jail and after they finish their sentence?

[SJSAMPLE]

Yes. They earned their prison sentences. Likewise, when the sentence is served, they've earned their release.

Then, when they get out, we expect them to become productive citizens. But, out of the other side of our mouths, we relegate them to uselessness.

If you want them to really suffer, make it part of the sentence. That way, they'll know where they stand. Don't continue it after they get out, when the expectation clearly set that they'll get jobs, raise families and become productive members of society.

Unless they've been convicted of voter fraud, you can't give me a solid reason why their voting rights have anything to do with their previous crimes. Continueing to punish them, even while it creates a worse kind of criminal, is cutting off our nose to spite our face.

And I'm not going easy on them. If they've committed a crime, the punishment should fit. Heinous crimes deserve the most severe punishment, up to and including capital punishment.

[nicmarlo]

"People who are not willing to follow the law should not be allowed to make laws for everyone else, and that's what this boils down to." Roger Clegg, Washington, D.C.-based Center for Equal Opportunity.

[antiRepublicrat]

Of course they should be able to vote once they're out; otherwise, you are continuing punishment after the sentence has already been served. I don't think parole counts as "out" though -- only once you're completely finished.

[EGPWS]

Only people who pay taxes should be allowed to vote.

But..but..if that were the case, then the Government would be smaller and less expensive, and what would we do without the Democratic party redistributing the countrys wealth to even out the playing field to all individuals legal or illegal? /sarcasm

[A. Pole]

I think unless the voting rights are explicitly revoked by a judge upon sentencing, the felon should be able to vote upon completion of his sentence. Otherwise, I just see it as an implicit punishment that wasnt part of sentencing.

Exactly. Since the laws are so vast and complicated almost everyone can be convicted of some felony. It helps to deprive people of rights and to establish a tyranny. I suspect that people who are self-righteous and lust for punishing others, deep in their hearts hate freedom.

[antiRepublicrat]

Exactly why this debate shouldn't matter. They don't care. They gave it up

I wonder if G. Gordon Liddy would mind not being able to vote.

[A. Pole]

It's just my opinion, of course, but someone who has committed a felon has already shown him/herself to have complete disregard for the society in which he/she lives, whether that be "white collar" crime or otherwise.

This is not true. Are you sure that you did not commit any felony? The laws are many and you must have broken some knowingly or unknowlingly.

It is so amusing to see self-righteous hypocrites unmasked. It happens with great regulatity.

[Prime Choice]

No. Felons demonstrate though their own actions that they are not fit to assume responsibility in society. Thus, they should not have any role in determining society's direction.

Giving felons back the right to vote is just another step in putting the patients in charge of the asylum.

[Edit35]

Loss of the franchise is part of the punishment for committing a felony. Therefore felons should never be permitted to vote. A felony is a breach of the social contract. A felon has placed himself outside of the civilized society and should be kept there. We need no votes from felons. The Democratic Party, recognizing that felons will vote 100% Dem, are all in favor.

Years ago (in the 70's), those busted for marijuana possession, depending on the circumstances, were conosidered felons.

Now, 30 years later, should they be denied the right to vote. I think not.

And in the same vein, those busted for small amounts of other drugs, LSD, cocaine, etc., were also classified felons in many states.

Many of those people are now fully productive citizens, holding jobs, raising families, making decisions to improve the community. Should they also be denied.

These people who say NEVER-LET-THEM-VOTE-AGAIN really make me ill, especially considering some of the archane laws that were in effect years ago.

[boris]

"So you believe they shouldn't (be allowed to vote) both in jail and after they finish their sentence?"

Finishing the sentence is not equal to "paying their [entire] debt to society."

A felon must continue to pay his debt after he has completed his partial punishment, namely: time in prison. What part of this transparently simple point do you not understand?

--Boris