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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums5.8 million Americans can't vote because of their criminal records
Most states prohibit people from voting while in prison for a felony. Even if someone isn't physically incarcerated, if they're serving a criminal sentence for a felony conviction, they're probably not allowed to vote. Twelve states make it illegal for some people with felony convictions to vote even after they've finished their sentences.
As a result, according to the Sentencing Project, 5.8 million American citizens have lost their voting rights through the criminal-justice system. And one in every thirteen African-American citizens has lost his or her right to vote this way.
This map, compiled by the Sentencing Project based on 2012 data, shows which states have disenfranchised the biggest shares of their electorates:
The map shows that just disenfranchising people who are currently serving sentences for felonies doesn't have nearly as much of an effect on the electorate as disenfranchising people after they've finished their sentences. All but two states Maine and Vermont make it illegal for people to vote from prison if they've been convicted of felonies. Thirty-five states prohibit people from voting if they're on parole after being released from prison, and 31 make it illegal for people to vote who are on probation for a crime (even though they may not have gone to prison at all).
map at link, plus more:
http://www.vox.com/2014/10/5/6906875/state-prisoner-voting-law-felon-disenfranchisement-map-virginia
valerief
(53,235 posts)people who might vote Dem.
yeoman6987
(14,449 posts)Why have a rapist get voting rights back or a pediphile or possibly a murderer. Now I have soften my beliefs to nonviolent criminals after finishing up probation should be able to vote.
valerief
(53,235 posts)That's non-violent. I want to see some stoner be able to vote.
PDJane
(10,103 posts)Even if you are incarcerated, they can't remove your franchise.
nc4bo
(17,651 posts)Slave labor of the inmates, often charging them daily for the privilege of incarceration, along with time spent behind bars or under probation; these people are actually paying debt to society x2 or x3.
The profits the prisons make are enormous, not much different from the slave labor in countries like China, India, etc. with the slave labor paid pennies to a dollar or a crust of bread.
We have to do better than this. Canada has it right.
The current crop chickensh#t Dems would never touch this issue with a ten foot pole even though the cause is right and what is happening, wrong.
nc4bo
(17,651 posts)Ok, I can understand the ineligibility to vote while incarcerated but after you've served your time, paid your debt to society, there is no reason a person can not vote.
Those who've not had their voting privileges reinstated should also be exempt from say.....paying taxes of any kind.
Has the stench of Republican all over it.
Grrrr.
n2doc
(47,953 posts)nc4bo
(17,651 posts)5.8 million people is a helluva lot of potential voters, enough to make a difference in an election.
We suck as a society, we really do.
yesiwasacop
(93 posts)If we re-instate one right, we will then have to restore other rights such as......................................................................................................gun ownership! Yea lets do that.
Just think, if we restore these rights, then these guys guy right here will be voting right alongside of them after they get released early for good behavior...oh and they can go buy a gun too...
http://www.memphisflyer.com/NewsBlog/archives/2014/10/01/former-mpd-officer-sentenced-to-11-years-for-raping-college-student
http://www.northwestgeorgianews.com/rome/news/local/former-cave-spring-police-officer-sentenced-to-years-on-child/article_805e4ccc-effb-11e3-8e9b-001a4bcf6878.html
http://whiteprisongangs.blogspot.com/2009/05/nazi-low-riders.html
There are many more and most of them are not ex cops