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Originally Posted by raytri";p="
Quote:
Originally Posted by KLang";p="
I'm undecided on the felon voting issue but shouldn't that be left up to the states to decide as it is today?
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Well, maybe. It's kind of unfair that your right to vote in federal elections depends on what state you live in. And if you move, your status could change. That just doesn't feel right.
Then you had the cases in the 2004 election where states failed to update each other on the proper status of ex-cons who had moved between states, resulting in lots of people who should have been eligible to vote in Florida being barred from doing so because they weren't eligible in their previous state of residence.
States might have an absolute right to determine who can vote in *state* elections, but shouldn't federal elections have a consistent standard?
I don't have a problem with felons being allowed to vote after they've completed their sentence. They did their time and paid their debt to society; what's the point in continuing to withhold a basic benefit of a democratic society? |
Many things from drinking age to criminal sentences are left to the states. Also, there were nearly as many felons who voted who were ineligible in Florida in 2000.
It depends on the crime, there might be some lower levels of felony convictions were it is ok that they vote. Some should be banned for life. And many have not completed their sentences and are still on parole or probation. I don't think the direction of our country should be determined by someone who feels molesting children is an acceptable activity. Or that murder or rape is ok. There may be certain circumstances where it is ok for these people to vote, but that is more the exception than the rule. Crimes come with various punishments, this should be one of them. Although the fact that democrat politicians want felons to vote speaks quite a bit to their constituency and core beliefs.