Should felons be allowed to vote?

5004 Views 134 Replies 29 Participants Last post by BanditFlyer, Apr 12, 2007

gotrootdude

Discussion Starter · Apr 7, 2004

I believe it is of vital importance that felons be allowed to vote. If a person is subjected to the laws, he/she should have a right to have as much input in the making of the laws as can be afforded.

Our laws do not do enough at this time to afford equal and adaquate defenses in criminal trails. A poor person gets a court appointed attorney, the attorney is appointed by the judge. The defense attorney and prosecutor attorney along with the judge choose the jury. Therefore, if the judge is biased and has reason, the defense attorney, and jury can be slanted toward the prosecutors side. Furthermore, the judge allots the time in which a defense attorney can be allowed to speak, effectively weakening the defense. In the state of Texas, it is common for the judge to allot 30 minutes time for the defense in a death penalty crime. Rights, and the defense of rights, are for those who can afford them.

it was once one of the basic precepts of our system of justice that it is better to free 10 guilty men than to allow one innocent man to rot in jail.
If innocents are inprisoned, what rights to change the system that prosecuted them do they have?

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LANMaster

· #2 · Apr 7, 2004

Should felons be allowed to vote?

Absolutely, positively NOT!

Our laws do not do enough at this time to afford equal and adaquate defenses in criminal trails.

Sorry, but I disagree on the strongest terms.

You should make this a poll thread. Ask the question just like you did, and provide a simple yes / no choice.

LANMaster

· #7 · Apr 7, 2004

gotrootdude said:
Whether or not you want the laws is not an effective arguement to remove voting privilege.

Lanmaster, do you believe that justice prevails, or just that perceived justice is accomplished.

ComputerFix, if robbing Circle K is what the majority wants legalized, then that's what should be legalized, it's called democracy..

Although I am not a felon, I do have compassion for them. Especially the ones like the man in California who served 12 years in prison due to false allegations from two teenage girls. Should such people have the right to try to change laws through voting so that others don't suffer the same fate?

With regard to the guy. I thought it was 8 months

Anyway, if the conviction for the Felony is overturned, then sure, give him back the right to vote as well.

Using your own argument about the possible innocents who are locked up, wouldn't you then have to say, let's not put ANYONE in jail, because there may be one innocent in there? With regard to the death penalty, I am starting to come down on the side of abolishing the DP, because the issue is then perminent. (thanks for shining the light Rep) But in the case of a CONVICTED Felon's right to vote, it is my opinion that they have disregarded the rule of law to an extreme that I feel should deny them the right to participate in at that level.

Should Felons be denied the right to donate to political campaigns? I'd support that as well, but Felons currently can contribute to political campaigns. Just ask any Democrat.

j/k

LANMaster

· #8 · Apr 7, 2004

You make a compelling argument, IK.

You may even convince me that once someone has FULLY paid their debt to society, then perhaps they should be allowed to remove that stigma and be allowed to vote.

But

To suggest that a Convicted Felon, serving time for breaking the law, should be allowed to affect the outcome of a political contest is ludicris.
Naturally the majority of those incarcerated would vote for the candidate most likely to be soft on crime, thereby making it easier for the criminal to return to a life of crime once the debt has been paid.
Nope, Felons lose the rights free society has, because Felons deny those rights to others.

Edit: Darnit, Lan, It's IK!

LANMaster

· #13 · Apr 7, 2004

infidel_kast said:
Darnit LAN, its IK, not AK!!!
I think you are making a broad assumption. I go to the federal prison here in Ft. Worth and counsel inmates on employment matters once they are released. I have yet to see one say they are innocent, or were framed, in fact most will tell you that they made a mistake and used poor judgement, and will take responsibilty for their crimes.
This is a small percentage of the population, I doubt it would influence anything, except maybe local elections against the sheriff.
Most politicians would not even associate with them, it would not be in their best interest, but allowing them to vote at least gives felons the belief that they are WORTH something when they get out. They are already at a huge disadvantage employment-wise, when they get out, and I do not see the rationalization for this. Where is the direct threat to democracy. In fact, I would say that we strengthen our country by allowing everyone that is able to vote, to vote, even criminals. What would that tell teh world about democracy and our standards of society.
Voting is never a privilage, it is a RIGHT!
Darn, I broke my soapbox.

Sorry, IK. I edited my last to change your name.

Taking away voting rights is part of the punishment for committing a felony.
Once the Felon has FULLY paid his debt to society, I would suggest that you are correct and that the right to vote should be returned.
It is about punishment. Some might even consider it a deterrant.
But while an inmate is serving time for a felony, he/she should NOT have the right to vote, IMO.

Currently, once convicted of a felony, you lose the right to vote perminently. Is that correct?

LANMaster

· #19 · Apr 7, 2004

CyBerAliEn said:
I'm with LAN on this one (no surprise, really ).

Be careful. Comments like that might make you a target for ridicule.

LANMaster

· #28 · Apr 8, 2004

The incarcerated should not be allowed to vote at all, IMO, regardless whether they are in for a Felony or not.
As a taxpayer, I would be paying more money to set up the voting booths and transport the prosoners back and forth from the polling place. Can you imagine how much it costs to move the millions of people around so that they can vote on a single election day? These paople are convicted. We must make the solid decision that everyone of these prisoners is guilty of the crime for which they were convicted. In my book, that means they gave up their rights the moment they decided to take away rights from somebody else.

Taking away someone's right to vote is part of the punishment for the crime they have committed, IMO.

In addition, criminals (lets call them what they are) should never be in the position to change the political outcome of an election for all of those who are not criminals, and have obeyed the laws that they have cast ballots to accept or decline.

My dog at home has more rights than convicts, and that is the way it should be, IMO.

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LANMaster

· #29 · Apr 8, 2004

If they want to hold elections to determine who's going to be Cell block monitor for the month, that'd be okay with me.

LANMaster

· #32 · Apr 8, 2004

2

Did you say, Kerry Waffles?

Comin' right up! Have a cuppa coffe while you're at it.

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LANMaster

· #34 · Apr 8, 2004

Tecate, Bohemia or Dos Equis?

LANMaster

· #63 · Jun 24, 2004

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. A Democratic group crucial to John Kerry's presidential campaign has paid felons some convicted of sex offenses, assault and burglary to conduct door-to-door voter registration drives in at least three election swing states.

America Coming Together, contending that convicted criminals deserve a second chance in society, employs felons as voter canvassers in major metropolitan areas in Missouri, Florida, Ohio and perhaps in other states among the 17 it is targeting in its drive. Some of the felons lived in halfway houses, and at least four returned to prison.

These people are still doing time, and they are willing to allow them to come knocking on your front door!!!!!

ACT canvassers ask residents which issues are important to them and, if they are not registered, sign them up as voters. They gather telephone numbers and other personal information, such as driver's license numbers or partial Social Security numbers, depending on what a state requires for voter registration.

Felons on probation or parole are ineligible to vote in many states. Doug Lewis, executive director of the Election Center, which represents election officials, said he is unaware of any laws against felons registering other people to vote.

A review of federal campaign finance and state criminal records by The Associated Press revealed that the names and hometowns of dozens of ACT employees in Missouri, Florida and Ohio matched those of people convicted of crimes such as burglary, forgery, drug dealing, assault and sex offenses.

More at the link

So, the next time someone knocks on your door to register you to vote for John Kerry, you may want to hide the kids as you give them your phone number, drivers license number and Social Security Number......

Who wants to bet that they don't even have to tell you that they are convicted felons?

This could only be possible with the Democrats!

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LANMaster

· #65 · Jun 24, 2004

Chris, you won't even know that the guy is a felon as you cough up HIGHLY PERSONAL information.

LANMaster

· #68 · Jun 24, 2004

Woops, sorry cibbers, I thought you were Chris A. for a moment there.

LANMaster

· #69 · Jun 24, 2004

AcaCandy said:
LAN, wonder if any of them are in the big house for credit card fraud or identity theft

I think they may have just hit pay dirt

... or worse.

LANMaster

· #73 · Jun 24, 2004

Hi Columbo.

I think the theme of this latest story (see post #63) is that the Kerry Campaign wants to temprarily release convicted felons, who are currently serving time, so that they can go door to door and register Democrats to vote in the upcoming election.
Keep in mind this duty would include pertinent private info from you such as your driver's license #, phone #, and partial Social Security #.

One can hope that these inmates are somewhat near the end of their sentences, but who knows?

I would be just as furious if Republicans were pushing for the same thing.

LANMaster

· #76 · Jun 24, 2004

If it is the Kerry campaign getting them released, how many Republicans do you think these felons would even bother registering?

LANMaster

· #79 · Jun 24, 2004

Even if only temporary.

Who'se going to watch them as they go door-to-door?
A prison guard?

My tax dollars going to help elect a candidate who I do not support.

LANMaster

· #82 · Jun 24, 2004

plschwartz said:
AcaCandy said:

He's getting them released too

Wrong Bush Acacandy that was the Willie Horton ad campaign

Click to expand...

Which happened to be a completely legitimate campaign issue.

But, If you read the article in post # 63, you'll see that it does include releasing inmates who wouldn't otherwise be released. 'er.

LANMaster

· #99 · Jun 24, 2004

bassetman said:
I met a woman who lives in FL., who said her and her son both vote in every election, but had their names removed from the voters registration right before that election!
She also said every car driven by blacks were pulled over on their way to the polls!

Any shred PROOF of these allegations?

LANMaster

· #102 · Jun 24, 2004

Wino said:
If lawyers, senators and congressmen can vote, then felons should be allowed also - they have caused much less mayhem than the former.

Hi Wino,

I think the theme of this latest story (see post #63) is that the Kerry Campaign wants to temprarily release convicted felons, who are currently serving time, so that they can go door to door and register Democrats to vote in the upcoming election.
Keep in mind this duty would include pertinent private info from you such as your driver's license #, phone #, and partial Social Security #.

One can hope that these inmates are somewhat near the end of their sentences, but who knows?

I would be just as furious if Republicans were pushing for the same thing.

LANMaster

· #107 · Nov 14, 2005

All that being said, Should felons be granted the right to vote where currently they are not?

No. Not because of their skin color, but because of their crimes.

I don't want white felons voting either.

The question has nothing whatsoever to do with race.

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