should convicted Felons br permitted to vote?

Question

after they have served their sentence. It differes from State to State. What is the basis for denying this basic right to someone years after they committted a minor crime?

Where do people get the idea that forbiding the vote to criminals is in the constitution?

Answer 1

To deprive them of their right to vote would deprive them of their basic civil rights. Of course once they are free, they should be able to vote. They have to live in the same world as the rest of us. I thought all states had caught up on that one. Where is the ACLU in this instance?

Answer 2

The comments within this series of answers amazes me. Everyone....EVERYONE has committed a felony. My neighbor (an architect) severely cheats on his taxes. My best friend (now a lawyer) sold a fortune of drugs during his college days. My co-worker once got into a serious fight with a guy and almost killed him....but got away before the cops showed up. EVERYONE has committed a felony. The real issue is....who HAS been caught and who simply got away with it and 'points their fingers' at the "convicted."

Once you have paid your debt to society (restitution, jail, parole, etc) you are deemed a valid citizen. If you aren't....them put them back in jail until they HAVE paid the debt!!!! Once your 'debt is paid,' you can work, drive a car, own a home.....even have a child. To deny a totally reformed person of their voting power is totally ridiculous. For those of you that say "NO....Felons gave up their right! "...you probably don't even vote in the first place.

Answer 3

No.
At the founding of the USA, it was decided the felons should never regain the right to vote.
Felonies are not minor crimes.
Felonies are serious anti-social activities.
Do you really want a convicted pedophile having a say in child protection laws?
Do you really want a rapist have a say in womens's issues?

I'm getting sick and tired of irresponsible and anti-social people whining about how they don't want to be held accountable anymore for their decisions as emancipated adults.
This Life is not like Monopoly. You don't get to go back in the game after getting out of jail like nothing ever happened.
When you make a Life altering decision, your Life is permanently altered.

Answer 4

Voting is not a right, it's a privilege. Felons give up that privilege by committing a felony. I do, however, think they should be allowed to vote because one of the founding principle of our great nation is "No Taxation Without Representation" and lets face it, every time a felon goes to the store and buys something taxed without being able to vote (and therefore has no representation in local, state and federal government) is taxation without representation.

Answer 5

It does seem unfair to disallow someone to vote once they're released. The point of their release suggests that their sentence has been served. The right to vote as well as other constitutional rights, if restricted, would seem to further punish those with criminal records long after they have served their time.

Answer 6

Well, if they are going to make sure they can't vote any more, they should probably make a lot of crimes non-felony.

I don't see how going to jail for 10 years, and never being able to vote again is a fair punishment for growing a pot plant.

Answer 7

This is another reason to make sure that Hillary is not elected to anything. She is in favor of criminals voting.

She will suck up to anything or anyone for a vote. Just like her whoremonger husband.

Answer 8

NO !!
They would vote only for those candidates that are soft on crime.
Just like the career welfare types always vote for Dems.

Answer 9

I don't feel any person who has committed a crime should have ant rights, because they had their right to do the crime

Answer 10

Minor crime or felony? A "minor" crime is a misdemeanor.