Should ex-felon's have the right to vote?

[BannedForViews]

and all citizens deserve the right to vote.
.

Prove it

/10 char

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I think it should be based off of the crime. Murder and rape for instance. Once you do that- you should lose the right to vote because you're a piece of shit and your opinion shouldn't matter.

This is the way it is.

[Lady Dragonheart]

Prove it

/10 char

The burden of proof is on you, not me. You are the one trying to disprove me, not the other way around. So, get your facts straight.

[BannedForViews]

The burden of proof is on you, not me. You are the one trying to disprove me, not the other way around. So, get your facts straight.

Occum's Razor actually puts the burden on you. The null hypothesis throughout time is that voting is not a universally protected right. It is a privilege. One that we in the US now extend to all people over the age of 18, assuming they do not have a felony record.

"In the U.S., the constitution implicitly permits the States to adopt rules about disenfranchisement "for participation in rebellion, or other crime", by the fourteenth amendment, section 2. It is up to the states to decide which crimes could be ground for disenfranchisement, and they are not formally bound to restrict this to felonies; however, in most cases, they do."

Voting is not a right.

FYI, that isn't how "proof" works. It's not the one who is fighting the other persons point of view. Nice try though.

[Hammerfest]

I think they should be able to vote once they are no longer in custody.

[Venant]

Depriving ex-felons of the right to vote gives an unfair advantage to the Republican party. This is because the poor and African Americans tend to vote Democratic.

Whats absurd is that the democrats have done nothing to dismantle the prison industrial complex. Why the heck do people keep voting for the democrats when they never bother to address the issues they supposedly care about? They always stir up these issues just before an election, and then after they are elected they forget about it all together.

Barack Obama signed off on violently crushing the Occupy Wall Street movement, and you can darn well be sure if BLM ever achieved a position where it could push for actual reforms, Hillary Clinton will have her media cronies turn off the cameras while her militarized police gas and beat protesters in the streets. The democrats have played those who are concerned with matters like prison reform as rubes for years, and it is disheartening that this con game is still going on.

[Zarc]

Having ex-felons allowed to vote is how most of the Western world that has liberal democracy does it, with the United States as the first exception that comes to mind. Of course they should! Anything else is not democracy. "Hey guys, let's make a new law to make this thing a crime and then target this specific community to try and bust people for committing said crime then they von't be able to vote. Perfect!".

[Masark]

Whats absurd is that the democrats have done nothing to dismantle the prison industrial complex. Why the heck do people keep voting for the democrats when they never bother to address the issues they supposedly care about?

Because "not dismantling it" is better than expanding it and that's what the other plausible option is?

[TITAN308]

To be honest, I wouldn't even be bothered if we let them vote from prison. What are people worried they'll do? Get murder made legal?

I imagine its for the same reason people put in involuntary medical facilities can't vote while incapacitated.

Lets look beyond the box at any number of scenarios. What if prison officials utilize their positions of authority to influence votes over their wards?

[Masark]

What if prison officials utilize their positions of authority to influence votes over their wards?

We smash said officials with the largest available hammer, same as we would any other official who attempts to interfere with free elections?

[TITAN308]

We smash said officials with the largest available hammer, same as we would any other official who attempts to interfere with free elections?

Because holding people accountable has worked so well in regards to contraband, sex, and other things in our prison system?

[VirginiaIsForLovers]

I say they should. They have paid their price to society, no matter how much they have changed, their voices will never be heard in the public arena. Depriving ex-felons of the right to vote alienates certain minorities, who have the deck stacked against them to begin with in the justice system.

Depriving ex-felons of the right to vote gives an unfair advantage to the Republican party. This is because the poor and African Americans tend to vote Democratic.

Disenfranchisement of ex-felons amounts to extra punishment, other Democratic countries do not do this.

Thoughts?

You don't have the right to vote, it's not said anywhere. The don't deserve that right. I know the left and dems want to let the criminals vote but we don't need more uninformed people voting democrat.

[Ivanstone]

You don't have the right to vote, it's not said anywhere. The don't deserve that right. I know the left and dems want to let the criminals vote but we don't need more uninformed people voting democrat.

So by your definition a group of people should be arbitrarily disenfranchised because they might vote for a political party you don't like.

[IIamaKing]

No, it is not. It is redundant punishment that doesn't serve a purpose. Losing your right to vote, for the rest of your life, just for going to prison for any reason, once, is ludicrous.

You are welcome to that opinion. But I am right, the law is the law. Being a felon costs you the right to vote and own guns for life. No reason to change that. Its easy enough to avoid being a felon, I mean its SUPER easy.

[Rudkobing]

Of course, they should.

[Ivanstone]

You are welcome to that opinion. But I am right, the law is the law. Being a felon costs you the right to vote and own guns for life. No reason to change that. Its easy enough to avoid being a felon, I mean its SUPER easy.

"You are welcome to that opinion. But I am right, the law is the law. Being a woman costs you the right to vote. No reason to change that. Its easy enough to avoid being a woman, I mean its SUPER easy."

See I can make arbitrary arguments too. If you look at voting history in the U.S. most voter disenfranchisement were based on incredibly bizarre arguments.

Furthermore, the Law is not the Law. Some states allow it, some states don't. Regardless, a felon (ex or not) still has to live in the country and has as much need to influence the world around themselves as anyone else. What if the law was changed so that ex-felons are not allowed to own a car or be denied the right to drive in general?

For example, I think bankers should have less right to vote than anyone else. Those bastards might cause great societal harm if they were allowed to vote. It might lead to things like the repeal of the Glass-Stegall act! Fortunately its super easy to not be a banker and thus risk causing wide-spread financial instability.

[Deleted]

No. Obviously, if you stole a car at 18 there's NO chance you will EVER be a constructive member of society.

[IIamaKing]

"You are welcome to that opinion. But I am right, the law is the law. Being a woman costs you the right to vote. No reason to change that. Its easy enough to avoid being a woman, I mean its SUPER easy."

See I can make arbitrary arguments too. If you look at voting history in the U.S. most voter disenfranchisement were based on incredibly bizarre arguments.

Furthermore, the Law is not the Law. Some states allow it, some states don't. Regardless, a felon (ex or not) still has to live in the country and has as much need to influence the world around themselves as anyone else. What if the law was changed so that ex-felons are not allowed to own a car or be denied the right to drive in general?

For example, I think bankers should have less right to vote than anyone else. Those bastards might cause great societal harm if they were allowed to vote. It might lead to things like the repeal of the Glass-Stegall act! Fortunately its super easy to not be a banker and thus risk causing wide-spread financial instability.

Being a woman is the same as being a felon now? Being a banker is the same.....well yeh proly.

Its not arbitrary. Its a punishment for crimes committed. You disagree that its right, cool, call your congressman and get it changed. I think its just fine do not do the crime if you cant do the time*

*time= all associated punishment.

[sheggaro]

Of course not.

[Betelgeuse]

Can't say I have any issue with a felon voting. What difference, at this point, does it make?

I don't think a current inmate should get an opportunity to exercise his franchise, however.

[Ivanstone]

Being a woman is the same as being a felon now? Being a banker is the same.....well yeh proly.

Its not arbitrary. Its a punishment for crimes committed. You disagree that its right, cool, call your congressman and get it changed. I think its just fine do not do the crime if you cant do the time*

*time= all associated punishment.

The purpose of the criminal justice system is not punishment. Its rehabilitation. A woman, a felon and a banker can all have something in common. They are citizens. In a democracy, citizens have the opportunity to influence the nation they live in. Denying someone the right to vote because of a conviction is about as foolish as denying someone the right because they don't own property.

What do you do in situations where people are rail-roaded through the criminal justice system? There are a lot of people who take plea-bargains for crimes they didn't commit since they can't afford proper legal representation. Admission to a crime is literally the easiest way of getting on with your life.