Should felons be allowed to vote, after they've served their sentence?

[CincySportsFan]

It's Time to Let Felons Vote, Holder Says - NBC News

[lawildcat]

"By perpetuating the stigma and isolation imposed on formerly incarcerated individuals, these laws increase the likelihood they will commit future crimes,"

 

I'm not sure how I feel about this but I know one thing, I really, really doubt people turn back to a life of crime just because they can't vote for the next mayor of Anytown, USA.

[CincySportsFan]

I know there's the whole "they've paid their debt" mantra...but, honestly the first thing that I thought of was that they want to put the fox in charge of the hen house. I'm sorry, but the whole adage of "don't do the crime, if you can't do the time" rings true to me. And to me, not being allowed to vote, is part of the "time".

 

Can someone persuade me otherwise?

[Jumper_Dad]

IMO losing the right to vote is part of the "Paying their Dues" for convicted felons!

[Jumper_Dad]

I know a case may be made for this one or that one that should have their voting privileges reinstated, but as a whole I don't care if they ever vote again.

[BigVMan23]

And what percentage of these guys voted in the first place? I bet it's very low, so what are they being kept from in reality? I'm with Jumper Dad on this one in how I view it.

[2 Humped Camel]

I'm very skeptical that this has anything to do with ex-cons getting on the straight and narrow but I do believe if you've paid your debt to society and fulfilled your sentence your rights should be restored.

[BirdBrain]

Case by case basis. How many of you reading this have done something really stupid in your youth that could have caused you to have a felony conviction and you were just lucky ? (Or possibly even after your youth…and I know many of you that have) Felony convictions are not necessarily character flaws. The flaw in the argument is assuming the justice system is just and that everyone convicted of a felony "deserved" what they got. Folks, it doesn't work that way. I know a number of convicted felons who by virtue of their hard work and turning their life are upstanding citizens, still carrying the stone around their neck and most people don't even know it.

 

I think Merle Haggard said it best:

 

I'd like to hold my head up and be proud of who I am,

but they won't let my secret go untold.

I paid the debt I owed them, but they're still not satisfied,

now I'm a branded man out in the cold.

[Getslow]

After a certain amount of time, they should regain the right to vote.

[TAC]

If the law states you can not vote if you commit a felon than it is pretty clear.

[Getslow]

If the law states you can not vote if you commit a felon than it is pretty clear.

 

That's all well and good, but let's go a little beyond here...

 

Is the law a good law? Should the law be changed to allow ex-cons to vote in certain circumstances?

[UKMustangFan]

That's all well and good, but let's go a little beyond here...

 

Is the law a good law? Should the law be changed to allow ex-cons to vote in certain circumstances?

 

Exactly....Just because it's a law, doesn't mean it doesn't need changing.

[Bert]

After a certain amount of time, they should regain the right to vote.

 

I agree, there should be a probationary time frame. If during that time frame, you keep your nose clean, than you should get your voting rights back.

[UKMustangFan]

I agree, there should be a probationary time frame. If during that time frame, you keep your nose clean, than you should get your voting rights back.

 

That's my thinking as well. Also, if after that probationary time frame, you slip up even in the slightest, you lose it for good.

[Jumper_Dad]

That's my thinking as well. Also, if after that probationary time frame, you slip up even in the slightest, you lose it for good.

 

Normally they have slipped up several times before getting a felony conviction, not sure why they should get another do over.