Once a criminal, never a voter? In eight states, those convicted of a felony lose the right to vote--forever. Should ex-felons be able to cast ballots after they're freed? (opinion).YES On Election Day 2000, Thomas Johnson Thomas Johnson may refer to:
Homestead exemption from forced sale, the dangerous instrumentality doctrine, the right to privacy, and the Williams prevented him from doing so. Johnson, who runs a program for ex-offenders, moved to Florida after serving a prison term in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of on drug and weapons charges, and found that, as an ex-felon, he was barred for life from the voting booth. Along with at least 200,000 other Floridians, Johnson was--and remains--a citizen without a voice. Because of the enormous growth of the criminal-justice system in recent decades, the number of Americans disenfranchised, or denied the right to vote, as a result of a felony felony (fĕl`ənē), any grave crime, in contrast to a misdemeanor, that is so declared in statute or was so considered in common law. conviction is now at a record high, with an estimated 4 million current and former offenders barred from the ballot box. Because a disproportionately high number of African Americans African American Multiculture A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. See Race. are in the criminal-justice system, 13 percent of adult African-American men are now unable to vote. Some say that these people have broken the law, so they should not be allowed to vote. But this conflicts with deeply held American principles. We have long believed that once you've "paid your debt to society," you should be free to rejoin re·join 1 v. re·joined, re·join·ing, re·joins v.tr. To say in reply, especially in sharp response to a reply. v.intr. To reply. the community. A lifetime voting ban sends a message that an ex-offender never fully regains his or her citizenship. But more important, the ban confuses legitimate punishment with the loss of fundamental rights. Offenders are sent to prison as punishment, but we don't take away their right to free speech or other basic freedoms. And the idea that ex-offenders shouldn't be allowed to participate in making the laws of society becomes a virtual character-test requirement for voting. In a democracy, all citizens have a fight to participate, no matter how wise or repugnant REPUGNANT. That which is contrary to something else; a repugnant condition is one contrary to the contract itself; as, if I grant you a house and lot in fee, upon condition that you shall not aliens, the condition is repugnant and void. Bac. Ab. Conditions, L. we might consider their views or behavior. The U.S. is the only democratic nation that broadly disenfranchises ex-felons for life. In the last 200 years, we have seen the extension of voting rights Voting rights The right to vote on matters that are put to a vote of security holders. For example the right to vote for directors. voting rights The type of voting and the amount of control held by the owners of a class of stock. to groups long excluded. It is time to ensure the right of ex-felons to vote and make our elections truly democratic. --MARCH MAUER The Sentencing Project NO Voting is a right, but it is also a privilege. We don't let just everyone vote. For instance, only American citizens are allowed to vote, even though noncitizens may have lived in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. for many years. We don't let people under the age of 18 vote. Nor do we allow people who have been judged mentally incompetent to vote. The point is people are allowed to vote only if we are reasonably confident that they are trustworthy and loyal. And a person who has been convicted of a serious crime--the definition of a felony--does not meet that test. This doesn't mean that a felon An individual who commits a crime of a serious nature, such as Burglary or murder. A person who commits a felony. felon n. a person who has been convicted of a felony, which is a crime punishable by death or a term in state or federal prison. can never win back the right and privilege of voting. But that has to be done on a case by case basis, through a petition filed by the felon, with consideration given to the seriousness and recentness of his or her crime or crimes. The general presumption should be that those who commit serious crimes should not be voting. A person who is not willing to follow the law should not have the power to help make laws that others are expected to follow. When you vote, you are either making laws directly--in states that have ballot initiatives and referendums--or you are electing lawmakers. None of the arguments made in favor of felons voting makes any sense. Some say once felons have served their prison sentence, they've "paid their debt to society." But many of those who want felons to be able to vote, want them to be able to vote even when they are still in prison. Besides, just because someone has served his or her sentence doesn't mean that we forget about that criminal record. For instance, we don't let felons carry firearms This is an extensive list of small arms — pistol, machine gun, grenade launcher, anti-tank rifle — that includes variants. : Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A
Barring felons from voting is one way that society sends the message that committing a serious crime has serious consequences. It is unfair to law-abiding citizens of all races to dilute their voting rights by making them share their right to self-governance with those who ignore the laws that others follow. --ROGER CLEGG General Counsel Center for Equal Opportunity |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion