Felon Voting?

11/7/2018

During Tuesday’s midterm, Florida voted to repeal the ban on felons voting. In America, there are approximately 6.1 million felons without the right to vote. There are currently thirteen states that remove a felon’s voting rights indefinitely depending on the severity of the crime, twenty-one that do not allow felons out on probation or parole to vote, and fourteen that return the felons voting rights automatically after the time incarcerated. The only two states where felons never lose the ability to vote in currently are Maine and Vermont. In states such as Idaho, Alaska, Texas, Colorado and seventeen others, previously convicted felons are required to pay certain fees in order to vote. Sentences are determined based on the class of the felony, class "E" being the least serious with generally at least one year, and class "A" being the most where felons can receive life without parole.

What do you think on this topic? Does a criminal act invalidate a person’s value to society? Is the amount of time served by these people worth re-enfranchisement? Should the severity of crimes affect one’s right to vote while incarcerated? Is the permanent ban reasonable? Could these 6.1 million votes from currently or previously incarcerated felons change the morality of the results? Is voting a civil privilege and not a civil right?

42 Comments

Kelsey

11/10/2018 03:45:22 pm

I feel that convicted felons should not have the right to vote. Felons are put behind bars for a reason: to receive punishment for their actions and to keep our country safe. Giving them the right to vote contradicts the reason they were put there. If they chose to not follow the rules of society that are in place to maintain the peace, then the rule-breakers should have their rights taken away - including the right to vote. While in jail or on probation, no felon should vote. When and if they are released, it should depend on the degree of their crime to determine their voting privileges.

Brooke

11/10/2018 05:45:42 pm

I agree with you completely. What message would it send if we were to allow, for example, murderers to take part in deciding the future of the country they so previously damaged? Your requirements are fair and just.

Katherine

11/10/2018 10:30:20 pm

I agree that giving them the right to vote contradicts the reason they were put there. I think that if they are going to commit severe crimes, then they should not be allowed to vote. If they choose to mess with their rights, then they should not be able to have the rest of their rights.

Rachel

11/11/2018 02:22:48 pm

How would we decide what degree of crime constitutes the chance for the right to vote again? Is there a fair way to draw that line?

Katarina

11/11/2018 05:51:46 pm

I agree, I don't think they should have the right to vote while in prison. The ones who do get out should have to wait for awhile before earning their voting privileges back.

Jesse B.

11/11/2018 05:57:39 pm

You formulated your argument very well and I agree with what you are saying. I never thought of how giving felons the right to vote is contradicting to why they were placed there. At what kind of former felon would you allow to vote or in other words where would the line be drawn on when a felon can and cannot vote?

Brooke

11/10/2018 05:40:38 pm

Our current laws regarding the eligibility of felons seems fair. The purpose of voting is to give the people a voice, and depending on how severe the crime, felons ought to contribute. Obviously, if the crime was crime was extreme or they are at the time imprisoned, then their voice should remain unrecognized as a type of punishment and public safety. Qualifications upon the right to be able to vote should be more on the harsher side of justice in order to filter through all of those felons. But as of now, the lasting laws seem to be doing alright.

Katherine

11/10/2018 10:31:19 pm

I think that depending on the severity, they should be able to vote. Voting is speaking out towards the future of. our country. I don't think that they should have the power to influence our future with that, but I think that they should have the right.

Kelsey

11/11/2018 09:26:44 am

I agree, it would be ridiculous to let an imprisoned felon vote, when they do not even deserve the right of freedom. Do you think that these laws should be up to the state, or do you think this should be a decision the country as a whole should make? I know that would infringe on state sovereignty, but each state having different laws in place might sway federal elections.

Mckinlee

11/11/2018 07:07:26 pm

I agree! But the only concern I might have is what is considered a felony, like smashing a mailbox is a felony but does that mean that the person should not be allowed to vote?

Katherine

11/10/2018 10:26:16 pm

I think that it isn't fair to ban all felons from voting. Like Brooke said, the point of voting is to give the citizens a voice. If the felon was on the less severe side, I think that they should be able to vote. If it is a severe felon, then I believe that they should have the right to vote stripped away from them. I also can see the side where people would say that one needs to earn that right. By gaining a felon, they are losing that privilege and therefore should be punished for it.

Kelsey

11/11/2018 09:28:54 am

Where do you think the line should be drawn to vote or not vote? Obviously a murderer, rapist, or some other extreme criminal should not have the right, but what about petty theft, or drug dealing?

Brooke

11/11/2018 10:28:49 am

The severity of the crime should be a deciding factor, I agree. Should the entire country have one unanimous law we should decide upon, or do you think a more effective way would be to have states decide the qualifications?

Rachel

11/11/2018 02:29:35 pm

What do you think Brooke? Should the country have a unanimous law or should the states decide? I think that since each state has slightly different laws regarding criminal activity, it would be smart to allow each state to decide the qualifications. But, then it becomes unfair at the polls when one person can vote in a state and another who committed the same crime is not allowed to in another state. How can we make this fair?

Sariah

11/11/2018 06:58:40 pm

I see what you are saying on how it would be unfair for other people who have committed a crime not to be able to vote in one state but in another they could... but isn’t that why people live in certain states? Because they agree or mostly agree with the laws their?

Jesse B.

11/11/2018 05:46:46 pm

I am with you in that it should depend on the severity of the charge on whether or not felons should gain the ability to legally vote. I also, liked how you said that they should be punished for what the have done. Where would draw the line for when these people could or could not vote?

Katarina

11/11/2018 05:49:31 pm

I agree. They need to work to prove they are responsible and mature enough to make a decision regarding their country.

Mckinlee

11/11/2018 07:10:48 pm

I like what you said about voting being the people’s voice, you’re so right and felons have given up that voice by committing a crime.

Jazz

11/11/2018 09:01:44 pm

What exactly counts as less severe? Where do you draw the line? Should the right to vote be stripped away from severe felons permanently or should they be given the opportunity to vote with certain fees and requirements later on in their life?

Rachel

11/11/2018 02:19:35 pm

Voting is a civil right, yes. But, I think that when a person decides to commit a crime, they give up any claim to that right. They made a conscious decision to disobey and should have to pay the price for their actions. I do think that some should be allowed to vote or allowed to regain the privilege based on the severity of their crime. If criminals show a true remorse and a desire for rehabilitation, then they should be given the chance to return to having a say in the government. But, I know that drawing the line for this would be very difficult, how would we decide who gets the chance to earn back their rights. All in all, I think it is easier to just say that once convicted of a crime, people should lose their right to vote.

Sadie

11/11/2018 06:46:03 pm

I agree. It is just too complicated to determine if someone is ready to vote again. A clean record, sure, but other things must be monitored and that takes time and effort.

Sariah

11/11/2018 06:52:39 pm

Do you think we make such drastic and broad laws because of those two words you stated... time and effort? I wonder how much is put off because it cost too much money. I believe we have drawn to a very lazy way of doing things. Do you agree?

Conrad

11/11/2018 07:48:05 pm

I agree that there should be restrictions to voting based on crimes committed, but there is every possibility that they could have changed, therefore I believe they still deserve the right to vote.

Jesse B.

11/11/2018 05:33:35 pm

When someone is convicted of being a felon, they are automatically forced to relinquish their rights and privileges of being a free citizen because the have broken the law. Upon release from prison, these people are granted some of the entitlements of normal society, but not all of them. One of the benefits that is not always given back to former felons is voting. Since voting is a privilege and not a right, I believe it to be fine to take it away from certain people if and only if they have proved themselves not worthy such as if they committed a major crime. I do think that this privilege should be able to be earned back in certain circumstances though. I see that, depending on the severity of the crime, the felon can receive voting privileges again after the parole sentence has been completed as being fair.

Sadie

11/11/2018 06:52:08 pm

I like that you suggested ideas for being able to vote again, but drawing lines between the severity of a case is difficult, would waste time, and may bring controversy.

Jazz

11/11/2018 09:03:41 pm

What are some ways that felons can earn back the right to vote? Should it vary depending not just on severity but on what the actual crime was as well?

Katarina

11/11/2018 05:48:24 pm

I think that felons should be allowed to vote depending on the crime. If someone went to jail for something minor, even if it is still morally wrong they should still have the privilege to vote. Voting is a right as long as they are still a free law abiding citizen. After a person breaks the law they do as the government says. I think a person should have to earn back the privilege to vote, by continuing to be a law abiding citizen for a certain amount of time after being off parole or being let out of prison.

Challis Luker

11/11/2018 06:27:51 pm

I do not fancy the idea of criminals voting but I am also a strong believer that people can change. Someone who committed a felony ten years ago could be a kind and loving person now that has no intention of continuing to live that way. Perhaps there should be an extended period of time (like some number of years) that the felon would have to wait before voting. They would also have to prove that they are contributing to society in a positive way during that time and have a completely clean record since being released. This would all be weighted with the class of the felony and perhaps higher class felons are the ones that do not receive the right to vote at all.

Kenna

11/11/2018 06:44:09 pm

A person who has done their time and is now a contributing member of society should be able to vote. They have hopefully turned away from their crimes. Someone like that should be able to vote.

Conrad

11/11/2018 08:00:20 pm

I completely agree that people can change in enormous amounts. I think it is stupid that one silly mistake or bad decision can ruin a lifetime of opportunities. People who want to right a wrong that they have committed should have the chance and be able to bring back previously lost opportunities.

Sariah

11/11/2018 06:28:53 pm

I think we can almost all agree the punishment of someone’s crime depends on the severity of it. This would include punishment of taking away their right to vote. However is it fair to take it away for the rest of their life? If their was a felon who made dumb deductions at a young age and they straightebed their life out and got back on track by the time they were say... 45 or something.... should we still be able to take away their voting even though they are now making choices that qualify them as a faithful citizen? I honestly do not understand how the whole system works enough to say it is unjust or not. But I believe that someone’s rights should be handicapped or taken, only until they have proven they have corrected and changed their behavior. People can change but they also can’t. So it is just something that needs to be monitored accordingly.

Challis

11/11/2018 06:33:10 pm

Exactly. A person should be punished to the severity of the crime and if they can prove to be positive, law abiding citezens after being released than the right to vote should be able to be earned back depending on the severity of the crime.

Kenna

11/11/2018 06:40:36 pm

I agree. People can change and if they are making responsible decisions they should be able to vote. It should be monitored.

Jazz

11/11/2018 09:07:25 pm

I appreciate that you mentioned the fact that some people change and some people do not. Can change be measured more accurately by time, behavior, or something else?

Kenna

11/11/2018 06:37:48 pm

Felons voting is a strange situation. I don't vebelie they should be able to not as they are in prison. After they have served their sentence and parole though, I believe that they should be able to vote again. Whether or not the state decides to charge them for the right is debatable. It might just make them not vote.

Saylor

11/11/2018 07:31:49 pm

I didn't think about that. That's a good point, do you think that felons have regained humanity if they did something horrible? Or do you think they have completely changed and appreciate the law now? I believe that once you have decided to break a law you would probably do it again, eventually...

Sadie

11/11/2018 06:40:41 pm

If someone isn't responsible enough to follow the law then they should not have any say in how our government is run. Their opinion no longer matters when they disobey because they've proven that they aren't worthy of the right anymore. They made a bad enough mistake that shows they don't deserve another chance. Criminals clearly have something wrong mentally and aren't fit for voting in any situation.

Conrad

11/11/2018 06:59:56 pm

Everyone who lives in America is governed by the rules put in place by our government. The democratic nature of America says that anyone who is held under these laws deserves the right to have a say in their creation. I do believe that felons, in breaking these laws, have forfeited these rights, but not for the entirety of their life. People can change, especially over a period of years. I think that felons should not be able to vote while serving their sentence, but regain the ability after they are done with probation or their sentence. This will still give them the ability to have a say, one that isn’t totally affected by a past decision that they regret.

Mckinlee

11/11/2018 07:05:33 pm

I think the severity of a crime should have an impact on the person’s right to vote. I mean the rules are made clear, and if someone can’t follow those rules then they shouldn’t be allowed to vote on other rules or people that make rules. Although I do think maybe the criteria for a felony may need to be altered. Such as the destruction of a mailbox. But the severity of the crime should definitely affect their funishment including their voting rights being revoked.

Saylor

11/11/2018 07:28:12 pm

I agree, people should not be allowed to vote on someone who is making new rules or such. Depending on how severe the crime was maybe there could be a court ruling where the judge can debate if they are fit to vote or not

Saylor

11/11/2018 07:26:18 pm

Felons should not be able to vote. They lost the right to vote when they broke the law. Voting is a privilege and if they can't follow the rules they shouldn't be aloud to have the same privileges as the people that did follow the rules. Its basic knowledge that we learn as children. You break the rules you get punished and lose your rights.

Saylor

11/11/2018 07:35:29 pm

Considering that the popular vote doesn't have any impact on which candidate wins, honestly anyone should be able to vote. Technically nobody's opinion matters anyways.

Felon Voting?

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