Should Prisoners Be Allowed The Vote

[Skipadeedoodah]

Where do you folks intend to draw the line? Are we talking about rapists and murderers here? Only prisoners who committed violent crimes? What about muggers? Pot smokers? How about the guy who dropped a contact lens while he was driving and accidentally killed the drunk guy staggering across the highway in the middle of the night while he was trying to pull over? Should he be stripped of his rights? Felons? Are we talking about jails or only prisons? Do white-collar criminals still get the right to vote, since they probably didn't "hurt" anybody.

Jails and prisons aren't only full of society's undesired. They're also full of mistakes, miscommunications, technicalities and mentally ill. You're lumping every single person who sits in a cell together, and that's just the way the world is.

 

[ndj101982]

Where do you folks intend to draw the line? Are we talking about rapists and murderers here? Only prisoners who committed violent crimes? What about muggers? Pot smokers? How about the guy who dropped a contact lens while he was driving and accidentally killed the drunk guy staggering across the highway in the middle of the night while he was trying to pull over? Should he be stripped of his rights? Felons? Are we talking about jails or only prisons? Do white-collar criminals still get the right to vote, since they probably didn't "hurt" anybody.

Jails and prisons aren't only full of society's undesired. They're also full of mistakes, miscommunications, technicalities and mentally ill. You're lumping every single person who sits in a cell together, and that's just the way the world is.

I don't think that classifying a person who is in jail for drugs in the same category as a pedaphile is appropriate in general terms. However, in term of right to vote, I think that unless you are currently walking freely on the streets you lose your right to vote on a temporary basis until you are free from incarceration. I'm not saying that makes a person a bad person for being incarcerated, but for voting purposes I think the line should be drawn there. Currently free civilians can vote, if you're locked up you miss the boat this time around.

 

[miskiduk]

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[Mitchell]

I don't think that prisoners themselves should have the right to vote. If you've been convicted of a crime, and are serving time, you've lost those rights, in my view.

However, I've seen posts on here which suggest that people who have been convicted of a crime, should lose those rights "forever". That, in my view, is too severe. Say, for example, a person was convicted of a crime, and served.. five years in jail, for whatever crime. They have gone through their prison time, probation, and are getting back into society. If they have learned their lesson, I say they should be allowed to have the right to vote, five years from the date they are finished with their probation. If the system has forgiven them, they have served their time, and are no longer being watched by the law enforcement system, why should they be denied the right to vote forever?

Maybe this view is too lenient for some. I see it as middle of the road.

Mitch

 

[ndj101982]

Prisoners should be allowed to vote. Representative government is the single most defining element of a democracy. Either every single adult citizen can vote, or you're not a democracy - you're some pretender that thinks it can determine which segments of the population are worthy of the vote. It doesn't take a genius to see where that can lead.

Prisoners still have rights - they're still citizens. That's why inmates can't legally be tortured, starved, or raped in prison. Why not legalize those things? I mean, if you don't deserve any rights once you've committed a felony, why not?

Prisoners do have rights. To say they don't is factually incorrect, and to say they shouldn't is utterly shocking and demonstrates a childishly simplistic understanding of crime and punishment.

Democracy is also based on Freedom, as well as the responsibilities that come with that freedom. Such responsbilities include electing a government and relying on a fair and unbiased legal system that punishes those who do not behave in a proper fashion based on the priveleges of democracy. Therefore, while incarcerated you have temporarily lost your rights to enjoy the freedom that comes with a democratic republic, including the right to vote.

 

[milagros317]

Forfeiting the right to vote is an appropriate punishment for serious felonies, IMO. One can discuss which felonies are serious enough to merit this penalty in addition to time in prison.

 

[darkscar]

where not talking about people who have committed an infractions or misdemeanors.

My opinion If you are Convicted of a Felony and are serving time IN PRISON Yes your voting rights should be revoked. If you are on Prole Yes your Voting rights should be revoked until your prole period is over. I do not think they need to be taken away forever after the time is served.

2 states in the US allow voting when you are in prison for a felony that's Maine and Vermont, it figures....

12 states Take them away forever mostly southern states LOL, it figures.... haha I,m surprised Texas isn't one of them you think they would.

I'm 75% conservative and 25% Liberal. If you let the punishment fit the crime, then people who really deserve a second chance should get it, and the other should not. ( And I,m talking about people who commit Vicious and Hannis Crimes) get no sympathy from me, they can rot in jail.

 

[Cosmo_ac]

Democracy is also based on Freedom, as well as the responsibilities that come with that freedom. Such responsbilities include electing a government and relying on a fair and unbiased legal system that punishes those who do not behave in a proper fashion based on the priveleges of democracy. Therefore, while incarcerated you have temporarily lost your rights to enjoy the freedom that comes with a democratic republic, including the right to vote.

If we had a fair and unbiased legal system, what you said might make sense.

 

[maniactickler]

Prisoners should be allowed to vote. Representative government is the single most defining element of a democracy. Either every single adult citizen can vote, or you're not a democracy - you're some pretender that thinks it can determine which segments of the population are worthy of the vote. It doesn't take a genius to see where that can lead.

Prisoners still have rights - they're still citizens. That's why inmates can't legally be tortured, starved, or raped in prison. Why not legalize those things? I mean, if you don't deserve any rights once you've committed a felony, why not?

Prisoners do have rights. To say they don't is factually incorrect, and to say they shouldn't is utterly shocking and demonstrates a childishly simplistic understanding of crime and punishment.

This is completely ridiculous. thank god guys like you dont run the government.

 

[jkb]

I think we should worry less about whether prisoners can or can't waste their votes in meaningless elections and more about reforming our laws so that one can't find themselves in prison for victimless crimes. You eliminate the concept of the "victimless crime", and then you can come back and talk to me about eliminating the prisoner's right to vote.

 

[Deuce]

The only right they should have is to maybe clean roadsides of trash, police a park and so on.

 

[WorkInProgress]

In reality, voting rights are still the province of the states, with the exception of very specific controls imposed by constitutional amendment--no poll tax, no racial discrimination, no gender discrimination. So it differs state to state. I read of a case in New Jersey in which a woman was barred from voting for a period of time after being released from jail; she went to the polls and voted; and she was thrown back in jail for casting an illegal vote. Now that's just wrong.

 

[MasterPaladin]

I don't think that prisoners themselves should have the right to vote. If you've been convicted of a crime, and are serving time, you've lost those rights, in my view.

However, I've seen posts on here which suggest that people who have been convicted of a crime, should lose those rights "forever". That, in my view, is too severe. Say, for example, a person was convicted of a crime, and served.. five years in jail, for whatever crime. They have gone through their prison time, probation, and are getting back into society. If they have learned their lesson, I say they should be allowed to have the right to vote, five years from the date they are finished with their probation. If the system has forgiven them, they have served their time, and are no longer being watched by the law enforcement system, why should they be denied the right to vote forever?

Maybe this view is too lenient for some. I see it as middle of the road.

Mitch

When you vote you are also eligible to serve jury duty. Would you want a convicted rapist sitting in the jury box for your rape case. This is extreme but it makes my point. There are many things a convicted felon can not do and I agree. Voting is not the only issue just one part. The right to get a pistol carry permit is taken away all over as are some jobs.

 

[WorkInProgress]

Being registered to vote doesn't automatically get you on a jury. When you're called for jury duty, you're asked if you have any convictions, and lying about that is perjury.

Any discussion of prisoners needs to take place with the memory that some prisoners are innocent and falsely convicted. This doesn't automatically dismiss the matter, but it needs to be mentioned and factored in.

 

[usgrant]

We have one of the fairest and unbiased legal systems in the world, only a dopey liberal would not understand this. I think only a few states do not allow ex-felons to vote. Only a dopey liberal would want current, incarcerated felons to vote.

 

[Mitchell]

MP, there are ways around what you describe. One can be taken out of the jury pool, and still be given a right to vote.

My view is that if a person has served their time, and the system says they are eligible to be "free", then why should they also not be given the right to vote? Believe me, I know all the holes in the justice system, where people serve far too little time, for the crime they committed, but.. if a person who served a short time in jail, is rehabiliting themselves, then why should they be denied the right to vote forever?

How about in the case of a victimless crime with time served? A DWI, with six months or a year in jail. (I dont drink btw, so I am by no means condoning DWI).. but.. say someone serves time for a DWI.. or petty theft? They should then be denied the right to vote forever, even if they are off parole, and never do another lawless thing again? No.. sorry. Too harsh, in my opinion.

Mitch

 

[Cosmo_ac]

We have one of the fairest and unbiased legal systems in the world

Which doesn't say much for our legal system does it? The fact of the matter is that our justice systems, while perhaps better then China or Iran, are hardly perfect and horribly flawed.

Originally i was of the view that perhaps convicts while in prison should not be able to vote. However, after some thought, i would agree that convicts should have the right to vote.

 

[MasterPaladin]

ok I agree with those who commented on my response , so they should be allowed to vote but not be on a jury, kinda selective thinking no ? A better argument would have been they get jurors from drivers lic. and soc. security #s as well so where do you draw the line. IMO any decision making that has to do with the law felons should not be allowed to participate in.

 

[C.A.B.]

Seems to me if your earn a grown-up "time-out" you don't get to participate in voting on the very laws you decided to break.

On a basic level, I don't want scofflaws deciding the vote I have to live with, my fellow law-abiding citizens vote is enough to contend with.

 

[maniactickler]

Funny how its pretty much the lefties that think prisoners should be able to vote. can you say weak!

 

[venray]

I don't think that classifying a person who is in jail for drugs in the same category as a pedaphile is appropriate in general terms. However, in term of right to vote, I think that unless you are currently walking freely on the streets you lose your right to vote on a temporary basis until you are free from incarceration. I'm not saying that makes a person a bad person for being incarcerated, but for voting purposes I think the line should be drawn there. Currently free civilians can vote, if you're locked up you miss the boat this time around.

Well said...

 

[Barney Stubble]

There are rights and there are responsibilities. Time has clearly shown that the people who are so concerned about rights show an appalling lack of concern for responsibility. We have a responsibility to the law. At some point, failing to maintain responsibility needs to result in failing to qualify for rights. A felonious incarceration definitely meets that criteria.

Once the debt to society has been paid, the responsibility has been met. The rights get restored. It just doesn't get any more fair and reasonable than that.

 

[stroker]

The answer to this question seems to coming down to whether you are a consevative or a liberal, but as someone once said ."A liberal is a conservative whos never been muuged and a conservative is a liberal who never been arrested"

 

[boxleitnerb]

Of course prisoners should be allowed to vote.

The punishment of imprisonment doesn't void their civil rights, just their freedom of movement. Also you can get into prison for a whole range of things - some hardly worth mentioning, some very evil and sick. Should all these people lose their voting rights alike?
What about the innocent in prisons?

Also, it is no secret that a large number of inmates are put away for drug possession. These are mostly black and poor people, the majority of whose vote democrat. I don't want to scream "conspiracy" here, but it is rather convenient to have laws that specifically target this group, criminalizing an illness/addiction rather than going after the dealers with more vigor.

There is to much possible foul play involved with keeping inmates and (ex-)felons from voting. Just look at what happened in Florida in 2000. Conveniently, ex-felons and even people with only misdemeanors were denied their vote, thousands of them who could've turned the election around.

No one should be denied their right to vote.

 

[herts tickler]

Of course prisoners should be allowed to vote.

The punishment of imprisonment doesn't void their civil rights, just their freedom of movement. Also you can get into prison for a whole range of things - some hardly worth mentioning, some very evil and sick. Should all these people lose their voting rights alike?
What about the innocent in prisons?

Also, it is no secret that a large number of inmates are put away for drug possession. These are mostly black and poor people, the majority of whose vote democrat. I don't want to scream "conspiracy" here, but it is rather convenient to have laws that specifically target this group, criminalizing an illness/addiction rather than going after the dealers with more vigor.

There is to much possible foul play involved with keeping inmates and (ex-)felons from voting. Just look at what happened in Florida in 2000. Conveniently, ex-felons and even people with only misdemeanors were denied their vote, thousands of them who could've turned the election around.

No one should be denied their right to vote.

no one? i dont want rapists, peados and murderers deciding who runs the country! i say give the judges the power to decide wether people can still vote when they are sentenced. that way in can be proportionate to the crime.