The New Intimacy

Felon disenfranchisement

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Contributor: T&A1987 T&A1987
Should felons lose their right to vote? Is completing a jail sentence not enough to restore a person's rights, or does willfully violating the high laws of the land rescind the right to influence said laws? Is it restorative justice by keeping them from affecting the law, or is it just playing politics because felons usually support one party over another? What of proportional justice? is robbing a store, or getting caught with marijuana enough to warrant disenfranchisement, when murder is also enough? Shouldn't the right only be taken from the most heinous of criminals?

You don't have to answer all of these, I just wanted a lot of the arguments listed.
10/03/2011
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Contributor: mandiegk mandiegk
Well, in most states completing your sentence is enough to restore your right to vote. There are only 2 states that have a lifetime ban on voting for felons and one of those states has some kind of restoration process. Main and Vermont actually allow prisoners to vote.

So are we talking about permanent disenfranchisement or are we talking about them being disenfranchised while in prison? These are two very different scenarios.
10/03/2011
Contributor: T&A1987 T&A1987
Quote:
Originally posted by mandiegk
Well, in most states completing your sentence is enough to restore your right to vote. There are only 2 states that have a lifetime ban on voting for felons and one of those states has some kind of restoration process. Main and Vermont actually ... more
even temporary FD is more akin to permanent. the right to vote doesn't return after completing the sentence, it has to be requested and even then it isn't always restored.
10/03/2011
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Well someone write this one down on the calendar, it's the first topic on Eden that I have zero opinion about. LOLOL I really don't dive into the politics and hell that comes with discussing the rights of felons.
10/03/2011
Contributor: mandiegk mandiegk
Quote:
Originally posted by T&A1987
even temporary FD is more akin to permanent. the right to vote doesn't return after completing the sentence, it has to be requested and even then it isn't always restored.
That isn't true. Like I said above, it depends on the state law. My state automatically reinstates voting rights after a convicted felon is released from prison and there are plenty of other states that do the same thing or automatically restore it after the entire sentence (including parole and probation) are completed.
10/03/2011
Contributor: Angelica Angelica
I think it seems kinda ridiculous. I have a friend who served time for a felony conviction and can no longer vote. He is a pretty decently functioning member of society now and it just seems silly that he still can't vote because of it.
10/03/2011
Contributor: Dear Ruby Dear Ruby
I agree that it is ridiculous. If the time is served, then the rights should be restored - or else what is the point of prison sentences? It's supposed to be rehabilitation, isn't it? If we can't trust them to return to the streets and be citizens, then we should be keeping them in jail.

For the record, I'm a legal immigrant. I find it ironic that I can stroll in, take a test, and suddenly hold more political sway in a nation than those who have been previously punished by it's rules.
10/04/2011
Contributor: Errant Venture Errant Venture
During imprisonment, I feel that most rights (but not all) should be suspended - but only until they are released. That's simply punishing them beyond time served.
10/04/2011
Contributor: Wildchild Wildchild
Quote:
Originally posted by T&A1987
Should felons lose their right to vote? Is completing a jail sentence not enough to restore a person's rights, or does willfully violating the high laws of the land rescind the right to influence said laws? Is it restorative justice by keeping ... more
If you commit a major felony, say murder and you do your time then no you should'nt vote. If you are in a possesion of an Eagle Feather, non-Indian than thats a felony and when your time is up you should be able to vote.

The laws are set up to punish ppl with no looking at a grey area, say you shot that eagle and you had the feather, well thats serious and it's a lot different if you found it on a hiking trail. The hiking trail you picked it up and committed a crime, when you shoot the bird thats some serious shit.

We as the ppl should start looking at who's getting away with murder and who were just wasting time and money on to make there lives miserable.
10/04/2011
Contributor: Yaoi Pervette (deleted) Yaoi Pervette (deleted)
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
Well someone write this one down on the calendar, it's the first topic on Eden that I have zero opinion about. LOLOL I really don't dive into the politics and hell that comes with discussing the rights of felons.
You're not the only one!
10/04/2011
Contributor: Jaimes Jaimes
I might be the hard-ass, here. I would say that when it comes to felony charges, you've made a choice or two that has deemed you unfit to vote. I do however, believe that there should be an application process to have it restored. The eagle feather is an excellent point that there are gray areas in the law, so a complete hard-line stance just isn't practical, and for those who have made a mistake, but have left their sentence wishing to be an active and contributing member of society, then I believe they should have the chance to prove they deserve the right. In my opinion, repeat offenders have proved in their actions that they do not plan to be a law-abiding, contributing members, so why should they get an opinion regarding laws they obviously believe can be broken? However, for the majority of those serving time, I generally believe that losing your right to vote is a fit payment for being housed by the taxpayers for your time in 'rehabilitation'. Like I said though, I might be a bit of a hard-ass.

This is just one person's opinion, not a proposal for a bill. So no offense meant. It's just fun to talk about ideas, especially the ones that aren't all sunshine and roses.
10/04/2011
Contributor: Eucaly Eucaly
Considering the extremely high portion of the population (in comparison to other countries) that gets imprisoned in America, this is all terribly unfair.
10/04/2011
Contributor: Dear Ruby Dear Ruby
Quote:
Originally posted by Eucaly
Considering the extremely high portion of the population (in comparison to other countries) that gets imprisoned in America, this is all terribly unfair.
Yeah, that's not a good sign for a Democracy - felony charges become a quick and easy way to strip people of their basic rights. Political initiatives against certain types of crime and certain types of criminals thereby neutralize a certain type of voter... not good.
10/04/2011
Contributor: coolts12 coolts12
Quote:
Originally posted by T&A1987
Should felons lose their right to vote? Is completing a jail sentence not enough to restore a person's rights, or does willfully violating the high laws of the land rescind the right to influence said laws? Is it restorative justice by keeping ... more
They should be allowed to vote! WTF? I understand where they get the point that they're actions have shown not right examples but you're right! They did their time and can barely get by in life because of paying the consequences.
10/22/2012
Contributor: coolts12 coolts12
Quote:
Originally posted by Jaimes
I might be the hard-ass, here. I would say that when it comes to felony charges, you've made a choice or two that has deemed you unfit to vote. I do however, believe that there should be an application process to have it restored. The eagle ... more
Good thoughts on applications process.
10/22/2012
Contributor: spineyogurt spineyogurt
I think they should be allowed to vote but I do think violent crimes should have much harsher penlites.
10/22/2012