The 26th amendment lowered the voting age to 18 for all citizens. In jail(in NY at least), one is not allowed to vote if you are in jail. One out, you must file for your right to vote again! For what reason do you think?not think this is unconstitutional? Pease give reasons, and links if you can,Thanks!
2007-02-09 11:28:38 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age or older, to vote, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of age.
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Being in jail is not "on account of age"
2007-02-09 11:31:07 · answer #1 · answered by Geico Caveman 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No it's not a violation, and you have already received good answers as to why.
But it's an interesting question, and it prompted me to look a bit at the "other side" too.
I'm starting with an assumption that may not be true: I think the majority of felons in prison were not or would not have been voters on the outside. So I think there is an opportunity lost here to provide this population a pre-voting forum to teach and foster critical and complex thinking and to emphasize belonging to society and the importance of citizenship.
The prison population, however, is certainly large enough to swing an election, however, so maybe the voting should just be in-house for starters...
2007-02-09 11:49:18 · answer #2 · answered by and_y_knot 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you say "file for your right to vote again", I think you mean register to vote. And that only makes sense. Odds are, especially if you're in prison for much of a sentence at all, your address will be different.
Also, I don't know what the law in NJ is, but here in Ohio, anyone who doesn't vote for four years must re-register - prison or no.
2007-02-09 11:37:04 · answer #3 · answered by bobcat97 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I do not think that this is a violation of the 26th amendment. When you break the law and are incarcerated, voting isn't the only right you give up. ;-)
2007-02-09 11:31:14 · answer #4 · answered by rewter 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
its not unconstitutional as soon as you commit a felony bad enough to land you in prison, you're commiting an act that goes against the united states government therefore abolishing any rights you previously had with the exception of the most basic human rights.
2007-02-09 11:32:18 · answer #5 · answered by thenextiommi 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Once you are a felon you lose all rights including the right to vote and the right to bare arms. Its not a violation because you are no longer concidered a citizen.
2007-02-09 11:33:08 · answer #6 · answered by Spades Of Columbia 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Do you want those people in jail voting? They have already proven they can't always make the right decision, hence they're in jail...
2007-02-09 11:53:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Criminals get punished and this includes taking away their right to vote along with some other rights also. Don't do the crime if you aren't willing to except the punishment.
2007-02-09 11:32:49 · answer #8 · answered by Angelz 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In jail? not voting makes sense. Once out, it should be automatically restored.
2007-02-09 11:31:50 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
That seems like a lot of red tape. In Canada where I live they let prisoners vote I strongly disagree with that.
2007-02-09 11:32:07 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋