The Importance Of Voting Rights

Anyhow, there are people who believe that felons should not be given the right to vote once they are out due to the fact that they have broken the law and don’t have the right to choose a leader. For instance, the declaration of Independence states that unalienable rights include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It does not say life, liberty and the right to vote. John Locke, who played an important part in the founding of America, also believed that each individual had certain rights that by nature they were entitled to, however, he also believed that the government had a duty to protect those rights. If someone violates another’s rights to life, liberty and property, then they forfeit their own rights to these things and society can punish him by removing their rights. The criminal has broken their social contract and violated the trust of their fellow citizens. In addition, not everyone is allowed to vote. Children, non citizens and those mentally incompetent are among those whose rights. “Voting requires certain minimum, objective standards of trustworthiness, loyalty and responsibility, and those who have

Felons need voting rights too! Felons and voting rights are starting to become a big deal. Felons are wanting the right to vote, but some states will not give them that right. All states should let felons vote depending on how severe their crime was. It is not right to deny someone the right to vote. There are multiple reasons for why they shouldn't vote, but there are also some good reasons or why they should be able to vote. Felons deserve the right to vote for multiple reasons.

There are many ex-felon’s in past years that could not vote as stated “ Because of America’s unique rules, some 3.5-4 million citizens as of 2000 and 2004 respectively are out of prison, but not allowed to vote” (Enten 6). Millions of ex-felon citizens have been denied their right to vote, which is wrong. The good and the bad makes up the society and the world. People who committed these felonies and have paid their dues back to the society, may not be the same person they were when committed the crime. If the individual has completed their sentence, along with probation and parole, which then means they are safe to return to society and resume back to their civilized life, their right to vote should come back with it.

Should ex-felons be able to vote once they complete their sentence in prison? About 5 million people with a felony conviction can’t cast a vote in elections. In different states, there are different laws which mean some states go about felon voting differently. There are 9 states who permanently banned you from voting. People who are against ex -felons rights being restored argue no, because they feel that felons couldn’t make logic decisions before they got in prison so why would they be able to make logic decisions once they’re out. People who are for felons to be able to vote argue yes, because regardless of what they have done in their past, they’ve already paid for their crime and it is unfair. (Feaser). By law American citizens have the right to vote. Felons who have paid their debt to society by completing their sentences should have all their rights and privileges restored. By letting felons vote it will make the voting more diverse, and equal. Also allowing felons to vote will help with their transition back into society.

“There is an estimated number of 5.85 million Americans who are prohibited from voting due to laws that disenfranchise citizens convicted of felony offenses.” (Uggen). Varying by state, each disenfranchisement law is different. Only 2 out of 50 U.S. states; Vermont & Maine, authorize voting from convicted felons incarcerated and liberated as shown in (Fig. 1). But of the 48 remaining states these rights are either prohibited or authorized in at least 5 years succeeding to liberation. This disenfranchisement needs to be retracted due to fact that convicted felons; incarcerated or liberated, are U.S. citizens who are guaranteed constitutional rights that should allow them as citizens to have equal opportunity in political and social

Felon disenfranchisement conflicts with goals of rehabilitating felons through the existent criminal justice systems. Currently, 12 states entirely restrict ex-felons from voting. According to the laws in these

Although felons are a criminal who have committed a dangerous crime by rebelling against the law and have been punished by the government of the United States and their right vote have been taking away from them, I think taking away their right is unfair. Taking away the right to vote for felons is also against the fourteen amendments of the constitution which state that every person has the right to be free from discrimination and everyone have the equal right under the law (Bill of Rights 4). Therefore, felons should be given the right to vote especially when they are American citizen or naturalized American citizen. For the reason, no American citizen should be denied the right to vote and this should include felons who have served their sentences and who is willing to become a better citizen.

The long lines, the electric voting machines, and the “I voted” pin that you will get on the way out. These are the things that many people will never get to do. The majority of felons should be allowed to vote because one’s freedom of opinion should not be taken; the Constitution has amendments that should protect voting rights, and a felony can be a minor offense or simply a misunderstanding.

There are currently only 2 states in the United states of America that has no restrictions on felon voting rights- Maine and Vermont- and there are ten states, which includes Florida, Arizona, and Delaware to name a few that does otherwise. A crime as little as theft can result to a person having one less human right, which is the ability to vote. However, these laws are unjust; felon disenfranchisement violates the eighth amendment and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Some felons serve for a great amount of time that when they come back to the society a lot has changed to the extent that they would be clueless on how to go about in it, such that new policies and norms are being enforced. Voting can also be a helpful coping tool for felons.

The practice of prohibiting felons, especially former felons, from voting is anti-democratic, anti-constitutional, and antipathetic. A felon should be permitted to vote, assuming the felon is not a psychopath. Psychopaths are irresponsible, untrustworthy, and if they were allowed to vote, they may influence society in negative ways by voting for the politicians less tough on crime, for example. However, if a democracy is so frail that it cannot withstand the votes of those who are incarcerated, then something is very wrong with the democracy and needs rectifying.

Ex- felons should have the right to vote. A felon is someone who has committed a serious crime. A felony is “a serious crime, characterized under federal law and many state statutes as any offense punishable by death or imprisonment in excess of one year” (“Convicted”). Felon disenfranchisement is “Disenfranchisement is the taking away of voting rights” (“-Felon”). Ex-felons having served their debts to society should be treated like humans and doing that they should have their God given right to vote. When a person commits a crime, depending on the severity of the crime they can go to jail, or even prison, but the punishment does not always end there. In some states felons lose many rights, from rights to owning specific items to even losing money from paying fines. One of the most important rights they can lose is the right to vote; “states decide who is a criminal and whether or when that group can vote” (Manza 21). While leaving the power to the states Congress has imposed very important limitations on the state’s allowance to disqualify citizens from their right to vote. However the treatment of ex-felons varies from state to state. Felon disenfranchisement is deeply rooted in history, going back to ancient Greece and Rome. None of this making it okay, just simply a problem that needs to be solved. Ex-felons should have the right to vote.

Do you think people who have been convicted of a crime should be allowed to vote? Felon voting has constantly been a controversial topic discussed over the years in our society. Some believe that “voting is not a privilege, and is a fundamental right” like Waverly Jones, Jr. While others, shown by the editorial from the Daily Leader, believe “that it is only a right given to law-abiding citizens.” Allowing felons to vote is not in our country’s best interest.

Although some states believe that voting is a privilege that can be taken away after intolerable behavior, ex-criminals should be given voting rights because they are heavily impacted by government decisions, the vote is consequently taken away from low income, minority factions, and the US has a historical record of disenfranchising people regarding their race, color, previous servitude, and sex, so we have reason to question the disenfranchisement of other minorities.

The research will examine voting rights in relation to voting right inequalities and the society’s effort to have an all minority groups included in the civic process. The research will look into several historical factors that contributed to voting rights inequalities and how the society has evolved to solve issues related to the right to vote.

“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” – US Constitution (Amendment XV). The constitution states that every United States citizen should have the right to vote so why shouldn’t felons get the right to vote after they have served their time and finished their punishment. One of the main goals of prisons and jails is rehabilitation so if felons are given the right to vote then they would get a chance to start over and become a better member of society.