Should Ex-cons be aloud to vote ?

Question

IF yes why? If no why ?

Answer 1

im an ex con and i vote, so i made a mistake are you without sin have you never done anything wrong. the ones youre thinking of are ones who doesnt give a rats asss about you or voting. then there are ones like myself that has gotten their lives back together. and have a paper stating that i am enttitled to all these things. because i did my time. then again there are ones like yourself who doesnt believe in doing your time . you believe we should continue doing time till we die, but its not that way. so like i said if youre without sin or something to hide cast the first rock.

Answer 2

Yes they should be allowed to vote if they hold a legal status as an American citizen. The right to vote is a right which is extended to all citizens of the USA, regardless of the bad choices they have made in their life. What if an innocent person was sent to jail, served their time and then was free and was unable to vote because they were an ex-con? Would that be fair? I think that pedophiles and registered sex offenders should not be allowed to vote. In fact, I think they should not even be allowed to live.

Answer 3

I really like "Goose & Ton's" answer a lot. My feeling is no. I don't know what the law is but I feel that because they have broken the law they should be punished even if they serve time. I am talking about murderers, armed robbers, drug trafficking - anyone who commits crimes which harm others.

We all know many prisoners get out way early due to good behavior and too many aren't sentenced long enough to begin with.

Also, the % of former cons returning to prison is in the 90's.

And, by the way, I doubt very much that most violent criminals pay taxes. Paying taxes is not a criteria for voting.

Answer 4

cytopia1 If we base the right to vote on paying taxes, we can instantly increase the percentage of eligible voters that actually vote. That would happen when over 40% of US citizens LOSE THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

I support restoring the right to vote after a convict has served the entire sentence. However, I support longer sentences for many crimes and less rights while in prison. Beyond basic food and shelter, prisoners should not have the 'right' to anything I have to pay for.

Answer 5

Yes. In fact, even people in prison should have the vote.

The reason for my answer is that if you prevent people from voting you raise the possibility of people being convicted for political reasons, perhaps for non-political offences, in order to affect election results. This to my mind outweighs the fact that you will be giving some very nasty people the vote. Statistically there are not all that many of them, and there are plenty of other nasty people outside who do get to vote.

In certain countries, people from certain ethnic groups are statistically much more likely to be imprisoned. Giving them the vote avoids issues of ethnic discrimination.

Perhaps I could add that I am answering in general terms on the basis of my views on human rights, not in relation to any specific country.

Answer 6

It depends on what their crime was and whether or not they are a repeat offender.

If you've been to jail three times, then I think you've proven that you will not be rehabilitated and will never be a benefit to society.

If you are a child molester, murderer, rapist, or have committed some other horrible crime, then you should never be allowed to vote. Part of your restitution to society is that you must give up your right to vote. I really don't think the victim and their loved ones will feel sorry for you not being able to vote.

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Answer 7

No.

A. They have already broken the law, they could be more easily pursuaded to break an election law.

B. They should have no voice in how the country is run if they cannot support the laws of the land.

C. The Constitution says that all should be allowed to vote except for those who participate "in rebellion or other crime."

D. Felony offenders lost their right to vote upon conviction and shouldn't get it back. It is another reason that crime doesn't pay.

Answer 8

We have such a low voter turn out as is, I don't think we should take away anyone's rights. The judicial system and the electoral system are two separate things. This is why we have a constitution.

Answer 9

Yes, once they've paid for their crimes. Making a bad choice shouldn't mean loosing your right to vote for life.

Answer 10

yes, because we live in a corrupt world, those in top media jobs are like teachers, and they gloryfie things that effect the minds of some people and cause them to commit crime because they think its an adventure espacialy car crime, becausewe use the exploits of criminals as our entertainment,should they have gone to jail in the first place or should they have got a cap and gown for passing there test, they have done what society wanted them to do. avote from x cons could surprise they may vote against corruption not for it.