...only to be denied. These American citizens, who are also felons, are being denied the right to vote due to disenfranchisement laws. In the United States, “Two states, Vermont and Maine, allow convicted felons to vote while in prison. Nine states permanently restrict certain felons from voting (until and if granted the state governor's pardon) even if those people have served their prison sentence, parole, probation, and paid all fines. The remaining 36 states fall somewhere in between,” (ProCon.org, 2009). Felons should have the right to vote, as they have paid or are paying their debt to society, and the millions of missing felony votes impact all of us. How many times have you voted in a close race and your candidate did not win? Imagine if just a fraction of the felons that share your views were allowed to vote just like they are allowed to pay taxes. Millions of Americans in our republic are not represented at every election due to non-felony voting, which can be said to be undemocratic, and as such, felons should be allowed to vote in all states. “The legislature has sent a clear message that voting is a fundamental right that should not be stripped away from people who are working, paying taxes and contributing to their communities, “said Steven Brown, Executive Director of the ACLU of Rhode Island. According to the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, the right of citizens of the United States to vote is a fundamental right. An author from the New York Times...
Words: 865 - Pages: 4
...time, should you have the right to vote? I think felons should be able to vote. Felons are still members of this country and society. Just because someone has made a mistake we are still human beings living in a country where we have no say so and one of which we have no option as to whether we stay or go. Why must the government tell us we can’t vote but yet we have to live in this country from now on. Where is the justification in this? everyone should have the right to vote. if you live in this country and you are a citizen, you should be able to vote. People who have gotten caught committing a crime are most all the same as those who have committed the same crime and have not gotten caught. People commit crimes all the time and are not thought of differently until they are caught. I think Felons should really be able to vote because they have freedom of speech, still are able to live in the USA, & they deserve a second chance in life. These are all good reason why everybody, no matter if you are a felon or not should have the right to vote....
Words: 637 - Pages: 3
...Who do you think should be allowed to vote? Many people think that the voting age should be lowered or raised. Also if felons should be allowed to vote in prison. The typical voting age is eight teen. Nearly six million Americans cannot vote due to disenfranchisement laws. I think that the age for voting should stay eight teen. Also felons should not be able to vote because they can’t be trusted. Do you think that the age should stay at eight teen? The twenty sixth amendment ratified in 1971 establishes that eight teen year olds as the minimum voting age for both state and federal elections. Did you know that the original thirteen American colonies mostly set the voting age at twenty one reflecting the British law? Only seventy nine...
Words: 714 - Pages: 3
...are forced to abide to the laws passed by our government. Whether it is because they are undocumented immigrants, felons, or even because their state requires tests that they are incapable of passing, these people are being unfairly represented in our government. Although our constitution provides the framework for our voting system, it leaves the right to the states to establish who is able to vote and who isn’t. In order to prevent this inequality in the voting process, states should be required to share the same voting requirements and it should be easier for immigrants to gain their citizenship so they as well can have a say in government. The American constitution established the framework of the voting system that we use today in our modern society. Voting first started in 1776, during the time of the colonies and the revolution and only white male Protestants were able to vote. At the time when George Washington was elected President, only 6% of the current population was eligible to vote, so voting was very restricted. In 1866 the Civil Rights Act granted citizenship to all American born people. However, it did not mention that all citizens had the right to vote, it left that to be decided by the states. While some states have easier voting restrictions, others have stricter ones that make it harder for certain groups of people to gain the right to vote. However, currently all states share the common requirements that...
Words: 1846 - Pages: 8
...There’s controversy between whether felons should be allowed to vote. A felon is a person who has been convicted of a felony, which is a crime punishable by death or a term in state or federal prison ("What Is a Felon and What Is a Felony?" ProConorg Headlines. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2014). This means that any U.S citizen who commits a crime that’s considered a felony will be sentenced to either the death penalty or will serve time in a state or federal prison. There are pros and cons pertaining to this particular subject. Comparing the pros and cons of whether felons should be allowed to vote will challenge facts and the opinions of others. Being able to vote is a right not a privilege. The right to vote in America is a key element of what...
Words: 777 - Pages: 4
...Should felons have the right to vote? Do you think felons should have the right to vote? According to the constitution the Fourteenth Amendment grants to the states the authority to deny voting rights to anyone that has a criminal conviction. On paper this does seem to be pretty valid, if you break the law, things that at one time you were entitled to are now no longer allowed. In my opinion I feel that if a felon has made up for his/her mistakes then they should get another chance. For example if she/he has not got in trouble in over 10 years then maybe they learned their lesson and should be able to vote. You’re probably thinking about how even though they haven’t got in trouble in over 10 years they are still a convicted felon. I agree,...
Words: 350 - Pages: 2
...Introduction to Criminal Justice Assignment 8_08 Part A 1. Describe the loss of the right to vote for inmates who are incarcerated. Prisoners are citizens too. They may have committed a felony, but they are still citizens of their home country. Some people think prisoners should not have the right to vote, but many others think they should. About two million people in U.S. are in prison. All those people do not get to cast a vote in the election. They are not able to decide who runs the country they live in. Imagine not being able to have a say in our country. We are a democracy, which means everyone has the right to vote in our government. Prisoners should be allowed to vote because they still are citizens and still have rights. Prisoners should be able to vote and influence the outcome of an election . If all the prisoners were allowed to vote it may have an impact on the election. Prisoners want the chance to vote. As of February 2011 the United States was in the lead of number of prisoners with 2,019,234. Prisoners do not have a say in the government. In New York people who are on parole cannot vote. As of 2004 thirty-five states forbid people who have just been released from prison to vote. In the constitution it states everyone is given the right to vote. Amendment 15 is the voting rights act. In the first section of this amendment, it states the right to vote cannot be taken away from people based on their color, race, or what has happened previously in their...
Words: 1915 - Pages: 8
...Should Felons be Allowed to Vote? 1 In this essay, I will be in support of felons having their voting rights restored after serving their prison sentences and completing all terms and conditions of probation or parole successfully. My reasons for supporting the restoration of felons’ voting rights are because voting is a “right” under the Constitution of the United States. After a person serves their prison sentence; some ex-felons have the ability to be and remain rehabilitated and live productive lives. Also, the laws are changing making it easier to be charged as a felon. Most of the people that are against felons voting claim that they make bad judgments because they do not abide by the laws. Also, convicted felons continue to violate the laws and further prove they are irresponsible, and felons need to be taught a lesson about breaking the laws (“ProCon.org”). Does a person lose citizenship when convicted of a felony? Citizens convicted of a felony but who have completed their sentencing and parole requirements should enjoy all of the same rights as other citizens. I refute disenfranchisement because it is not a novel practice. Its roots are historic. There have been numerous legal challenges to disenfranchisement laws, and courts have found the practice to be unconstitutional. In these legal challenges, one argument, which courts have never fully examined, however, is that disenfranchisement is linked to...
Words: 1909 - Pages: 8
...Being an Ex-felon in America Jay Wainwright Axia College of University of Phoenix Being an Ex-felon in America There are many people in society who are still being treated unfairly. There is still a major disconnect from mainstream society and ex-felons. There are many people with opinions on how to help the ex-convict to become a productive member of society, except for the voice or better said by the rhetoric of the ex-felon, the one who has paid his or, her debt to society by doing harsh and terrible prison time. Yes, ex means nothing when it comes to a person from a criminal past. Everyone has already heard the rhetoric about “everyone is created equal” but, this rhetoric has been tested before and still being tested today. This is just some of the topics that will be presented in this paper. Ex-felons are underprivileged and treated unfairly because people of society are unforgiving and ex-cons are barely given any opportunities to change. Some ex-felons are underprivileged in many aspects of society due to one’s criminal past or better said mistakes. Ex-felons are not permitted to obtain a firearms license after one is convicted of a felony. One cannot conceal a firearm to protect one’s place of residence and most places ex-felons live, a firearm is needed. There are burglars everywhere but majority of them live in the same places as an ex-felon. How are ex-felons supposed to protect his or, her home...
Words: 2129 - Pages: 9
...punished yet still deal with the effects for years to come. Felons are a part of society and should be treated as such especially if they are reformed. A person can commit a crime that results in a felony and twenty years later still suffer the harsh reality of certain privileges being taken away. Yes, an individual should be punished for their crimes but the effects of a felony conviction should not include or affect that person’s right to vote, finding employment, or the pursuance of a higher education. According to Olivares, Burton, and Cullen (1996) upon release these offenders also deal with stigmas, loss of job opportunities, friendships, family relationships, and denial of civil rights. When it comes to the loss of job opportunities, a recent study has shown that most employers have hired at least one person with a felony conviction (Sawnson, Langfitt-Reese & Bond, 2012). Employers encourage job seekers with criminal records to be honest and willing to discuss their involvement with the justice system. Most employers did not have strict policies concerning hiring criminals and this is a plus. Convicted job seekers should follow standard job hunting techniques, but also be creative such as finding dependable references and making face-to-face contact. This should help the employer get a good idea of how the job seeker is trying to move forward and change their lives. Temporary job services often offer felons jobs and this could help them get the experience they need...
Words: 2221 - Pages: 9
...The disenfranchisement of ex-convicts is a very important issue. African Americans make up a significant amount of those being denied their rights to vote because of a felony conviction. Although many people believe that ex-convicts should not be allowed to vote, it is an unfair policy because the system by which felons can reacquire their civil rights is a flawed one, the disenfranchisement policy is particularly biased against African Americans, and the act of withholding voting rights defies American democratic principles. One major way that the system by which felons can reacquire their civil rights is flawed is expressed by the Tampa Bay Times reporter Steve Bousquet, who asserts that “to regain those rights, a felon must petition the governor and Cabinet for...
Words: 698 - Pages: 3
...Felony Disenfranchisement was established during the founding of our democratic nation. Wealthy male property holders granted themselves the right to vote, while disqualifying women, African Americans, illiterates, the poor and those convicted of felonies from voting (Mauer, 2011). All have regained their fundamental civil right to vote with the exception of felons. An estimated 5.85 million Americans temporarily or have permanently lost their voting rights as a result of a felony conviction. Out of those 5.85 million Americans, 45% have already completed their sentence (Uggen, Shannon, & Manza, 2010). It is evident that the disenfranchisement of felons is rooted in racial discrimination, based on flawed policy and rationale, and is fundamentally unconstitutional. Therefore, felons, whether incarcerated, paroled, on probation or released, should maintain their civil right to vote....
Words: 651 - Pages: 3
...and unfair voting practices has spread like wildfire. Voter ID laws should be put into effect to help eliminate fraud and protect the integrity of our democracy. By requiring voters to have ID, it will preserve voting rights that have been fought over for years. Women finally won the right to vote nationwide in 1920. Although people of color were granted the right to vote in the Constitution in 1869, they were seldom allowed to vote. This right was finally put into effect with the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. The right to vote is not a privilege that can be given and taken at will. However, there are legal stipulations to this right. Certain convicted felons lose their right to vote based on their crimes. People who are living in American that are not born or naturalized do not have the right to vote. But, how do we ensure this right to vote is upheld in an ethical and legal way? Requiring all voters to show a valid ID when registering to vote and voting would help ensure this process. Requiring ID to vote will also help prevent, and possibly eliminate, voter fraud. Fraud seems to come up after every election we have had recently. In the 2000 Presidential election, there were reports of thousands of ballots being deemed not valid because they belonged to convicted felons whose voting rights had not been reinstated (Parenti). In 2011, a county clerk in Wisconsin allegedly found an extra 14,000 votes on her computer that she...
Words: 1218 - Pages: 5
...associate, take part in public affairs, as well as having the ability to register as a candidate and campaign for election; by allowing these elements to occur. It is established on the credence that those who are affected by a decision have a right to be involved in the decision making process. However in both countries there are significant, almost insurmountable challenges that interdict a citizen’s ability to engage in and be represented in their respective political system. Popular participation in Australia is countenanced in a multitude of ways [Uphold] * Increase opportunities to vote, on and before, Election Day. In 2013 Election the Australian Electoral Commission undertook extensive remote area mobile polling services. Voting facilities were widely available. There were polling booths at airports (eg. For ‘fly in fly out’ workers to vote early and with convenience), postal votes and early voting at shopping centres and local government offices * Variety of political parties. In the 2013 Federal Election 54 different parties contested the available seats in the Federal Parliament. Individuals can join a political party and they can also form a political party and contest seats at the next election eg 2013 Clive Palmer and the formation of a new political (just before the election) being the Palmer United Party, which won seats in both the HOR and the Senator. There are no qualifications for being the Prime Minister apart from the requirement of being an Australia...
Words: 1609 - Pages: 7
...woman by the name of Kathryn Steinle, was gunned down by an undocumented immigrant. Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, was a convicted felon that had been deported five times. Because of San Francisco’s sanctuary city policy, Lopez-Sanchez, was released from jail and was never handed over to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which could have prevented a young woman’s death. This tragedy sparked a nationwide controversy on the issue of “Sanctuary Cities”. Immigration rights activists and many Democrats are standing firm that these safe havens, as they call them, for illegal immigrants are a vital part to the community. While others, mostly Republicans, say that there should be no sanctuary for illegals at all. Governor Rick Perry is one of these republicans that is calling for federal funding to be pulled from any city that supports the “Sanctuary City” policy. (Mutnik, 2015, para. 1) Immigration rights activists and some democrats believe that by having these sanctuaries, illegal immigrants will be more willing to cooperate with local authorities because it removes the fear of deportation. (Marcos & Lillis, 2015, para. 8) Even after the death of an innocent young woman, that could have been easily prevented if the laws had been enforced, immigration activists and democrats still stand firm on their beliefs. The only question is, which illegal should these cities actually protect? A single mother that works three jobs just to take care of her children, or a criminal that has...
Words: 504 - Pages: 3
