Current Kentucky Voter Registration

Democrat 1,682,393

Republican 1,260,812 (1,400,000 when all of the felons register GOP)

Other 180,849

Independent 70,035

You want to attempt a guess as to how many of these 140,000 non-violent felons (a) actually register to vote and (b) actually vote with regularity?

 

My guess is: a lot less than the general population, which also has a poor voting record in KY.

 

In other words, this order is mostly symbolic and won't affect a single statewide or national race going forward.

You want to attempt a guess as to how many of these 140,000 non-violent felons (a) actually register to vote and (b) actually vote with regularity?

 

My guess is: a lot less than the general population, which also has a poor voting record in KY.

 

In other words, this order is mostly symbolic and won't affect a single statewide or national race going forward.

 

Agreed

It is an old law dating to right after the Civil War that was supposedly to roadblock some of the black vote. It was written by the Democrats.

 

Democrat changed it. My how the parties have changed. Some woukd say flip-flopped.

I'm cool with this for non violent offenders who have served time. Pedophiles deserve nothing.

I'm cool with this for non violent offenders who have served time. Pedophiles deserve nothing.

 

I would also hope any involved in vote buying or illegal campaign activity that landed them in prison never get their voting rights back either.

I would also hope any involved in vote buying or illegal campaign activity that landed them in prison never get their voting rights back either.

The number of people who were sent to the pen for election crimes is extremely small. The vast majority of "non-violent felons" affected by this ruling served time for criminal activity to support a drug habit. That's who we're talking about here.

The number of people who were sent to the pen for election crimes is extremely small. The vast majority of "non-violent felons" affected by this ruling served time for criminal activity to support a drug habit. That's who we're talking about here.

I never said there were a lot...I said that if they went to prison for voting or election crimes they don't deserve to get to vote again. Just like someone convicted of killing someone while drunk driving doesn't deserve to drive again or someone charged with internet crimes doesn't deserve to have internet access again.

 

As far as Criminal Activity to support a drug habit, that is not a victim less crime. Every time something is stolen to support a drug habit there is a victim, but that is a discussion for another thread.

 

FWIW less that 1/5 of people currently in prison and jail in KY are in for Drug crimes...listening to most on here you would think 90% of people in jail are just there because they got caught with a joint.

I never said there were a lot...I said that if they went to prison for voting or election crimes they don't deserve to get to vote again. Just like someone convicted of killing someone while drunk driving doesn't deserve to drive again or someone charged with internet crimes doesn't deserve to have internet access again.

 

As far as Criminal Activity to support a drug habit, that is not a victim less crime. Every time something is stolen to support a drug habit there is a victim, but that is a discussion for another thread.

 

FWIW less that 1/5 of people currently in prison and jail in KY are in for Drug crimes...listening to most on here you would think 90% of people in jail are just there because they got caught with a joint.

This.

I never said there were a lot...I said that if they went to prison for voting or election crimes they don't deserve to get to vote again. Just like someone convicted of killing someone while drunk driving doesn't deserve to drive again or someone charged with internet crimes doesn't deserve to have internet access again.

 

As far as Criminal Activity to support a drug habit, that is not a victim less crime. Every time something is stolen to support a drug habit there is a victim, but that is a discussion for another thread.

 

FWIW less that 1/5 of people currently in prison and jail in KY are in for Drug crimes...listening to most on here you would think 90% of people in jail are just there because they got caught with a joint.

The following is a bit dated, but it formed the basis for my previous post. New York Times story from '98:

 

"Illegal drugs and alcohol helped lead to the imprisonment of 4 out of 5 inmates in the nation's prisons and jails, a three-year study has found.

 

"The report, which was released yesterday by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, determined that of 1.7 million prisoners in 1996, 1.4 million had violated drug or alcohol laws, had been high when they committed their crimes, had stolen to support their habit or had a history of drug and alcohol abuse that led them to commit crimes."

The following is a bit dated, but it formed the basis for my previous post. New York Times story from '98:

 

"Illegal drugs and alcohol helped lead to the imprisonment of 4 out of 5 inmates in the nation's prisons and jails, a three-year study has found.

 

"The report, which was released yesterday by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, determined that of 1.7 million prisoners in 1996, 1.4 million had violated drug or alcohol laws, had been high when they committed their crimes, had stolen to support their habit or had a history of drug and alcohol abuse that led them to commit crimes."

What point are you trying to make exactly?

I never said there were a lot...I said that if they went to prison for voting or election crimes they don't deserve to get to vote again. Just like someone convicted of killing someone while drunk driving doesn't deserve to drive again or someone charged with internet crimes doesn't deserve to have internet access again.

 

As far as Criminal Activity to support a drug habit, that is not a victim less crime. Every time something is stolen to support a drug habit there is a victim, but that is a discussion for another thread.

 

FWIW less that 1/5 of people currently in prison and jail in KY are in for Drug crimes...listening to most on here you would think 90% of people in jail are just there because they got caught with a joint.

 

This is a skewed statistic. That 20% you are seeing is what the person was "convicted" for and rarely tells the entire story.

 

I am grateful for this change, in particular since KY was one of only 3 states that had this law.

 

I can tell you from my own personal experience that the day this was announced I received a text of the press release from someone very close to me. This young man made some bad decisions, while still a senior in high school, albeit 18 years of age. His general tone is that while he has served out, he still carries the stigma and because of poor choices, his life is affected until the day he dies.

 

You can view it however you want and some will say we should never grant a reinstatement of civil rights. I totally disagree. We need to be making these decisions based on the content of a person's current and demonstrated character "since" their offense, not prior to and during.

Is there anyone on BGP that is against this or thinks it's a bad idea? If so, what are your reasons?

Is there anyone on BGP that is against this or thinks it's a bad idea? If so, what are your reasons?

 

I didn't read all the details and what all crimes were committed.

 

On the surface I have no problem.

 

But there are certain crimes committed I do think that you should never get voting rights back.

 

Like voter fraud , pedophiles and murder.

 

Non violent drug arrests I'm 100% on board.

IMO, if you have served your sentence/punishment and no longer on parole then you should voting rights back, no matter the crime.