Voting Rights
Word has it that Congress wants to pass a law so that convicted felons that have done time are able to vote. That would mean an addtional 40,000 votes by 2010, the thing is that these felons have to have finished their sentence. I'm not really sure how I feel about this topic, given that illegal immigrants aren't able to vote, but from my first post, are eligible for the $600 coming in the mail. Of course this is a good thing for the candidate, but what about the people who can not vote, but would like to.
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6 comments:
I think some states already have different rules that allow released convicts to vote. I don't see have any problem with that, if they have served all their time under the laws of the country or state then they ought to be able to vote again.
In Wisconsin felons can vote only when they have served their prison time, and probation. This should not be an issue since commiting a crime should not rob a person of their constitutional right to vote. The issue with illegal immigrants voting, if I remember one needs to be a citizen to vote, right?
I don't really have a problem with this issue. All in all felons have committed a crime, but they are not kicked out of the United States, so why should they not have the same right as any other American walking down the street. Also, on the topic of illegal immigrants voting, are you saying that they should be able to vote even if they are not United States citizens? That is saying that anyone across the world can come over to the United States and vote on candidates and laws which will in no way affect their lives.
I would have to say that I would not have a problem with this as well. If a person has done their time in a prison and are released from prison and have finished their probation I would give them the right to vote again. I would definately wait until after they have completed their probation period to make sure they are going to follow the rules in which the individuals they vote for will put into place.
I don't really see a problem with not allowing convicted felons to vote even after they have served their sentence. Seems to me that it is just part of the punishment. Someone who violates the constitutional rights of of another should have certain rights taken away from them.
The point of prison is that you go, you serve your time, and you leave. Hopefully there is some deterent in the process so that you will not repeat your crime. But prison in no way should take away constitutional rights. Aside from the pure wrongness, participating in political life gives people an outlet for change. Some people committ crimes because they feel like they have no control over what's going on around them and if you allow them to participate in some way they can reconnect to the world in an appropriate way.
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