Court Denies Felons Voting Rights Argument

[Rose Siding]

NEW YORK -- A landmark civil rights law cannot be used to argue that barring felons from voting discriminates against minorities because they are imprisoned at a higher rate, a federal court ruled Thursday.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which removed barriers to black voters, was not an avenue of relief for 21 plaintiffs, which include six current prisoners.
...
Judge Jose A. Cabranes, who voted with the majority in the 8-5 ruling, said there were "persuasive reasons" to believe Congress did not intend the Voting Rights Act to cover laws passed to prevent prisoners and parolees from voting in New York elections.....

Though the ruling related to elections in New York state, Cabranes acknowledged the issue has relevance nationwide and that "absent Congressional clarification, will only be definitively resolved by the Supreme Court."
...
Judge Barrington D. Parker said the majority got it wrong by preventing the plaintiffs from even trying to prove their case. He noted the dramatically different incarceration rates for minorities and whites.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-voting-rights-felons,0,4580034.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

[rodeodance]

1. why should people who have served this time to society be continually

punished for the rest of their lives? It really makes no sense to me.

[cspanlovr]

2. yes, haven't they " paid their debt to society?"

[Occulus]

7. According to some- several right here at DU- there are "some crimes"

for which none can repent.

Yet, these same idiots claim prison is for "reform". No, stupids, you want it to be for punishment only, which is why our prisons are hellholes.

People out there who think there are some crimes that a person should have to pay for even after their release are part of the overall problem. YES, I'm talking about some very very sick DUers as well, people who have no sense of shame when it comes to getting their rocks off over someone being punished forever for one mistake.

It's even more sad when there's cause to question whether the person targeted by their lambast du jour actually ever committed a crime in the first place. No, these people seem to think people who commit certain crimes simply must be punished, ostracized, denied housing and jobs, forced out of towns, and basically made homeless (because they know, if that sort of person with "that" sort of crime on their record is homeless, they get taken back to jail "where they belong").

Again, no shame and no compassion whatever for those who have served their time. And again, I've seen this attitude expressed here more than once and I feel, from the very depths of my soul, that it is a sick attitude that needs to be shouted down and drowned out each and every single time it rears it festering, repulsive head.

Ask me again in an hour, and I'll tell you how I really feel.

:grr:

edit: removed some, ah, "words". This makes me angry.

[Maat]

3. California does not interfere with a felon voting ..

if they are out of custody. That's what a relative of mine was told, and he voted.

I think that we should amend the constitution so that they are guaranteed the right to vote if they are out of custody. The Rethugs would never allow it. This retired social worker believes that they deliberately make drug charges felonies to get rid of Democratically-inclined voters.

[Occulus]

8. Michigan doesn't either

but there are people here who think it should.

Scary, sick, and wrong.

[MaineDem]

10. In Maine, even those incarcerated can vote. n/t

[Selatius]

4. Losing the right to vote is one of the last Jim Crow laws there is

I want to see it removed from the books.

[lovuian]

5. Does this mean Scooter Libby and Rove can't vote

:rofl:

[bluestateguy]

6. They shouldn't use the race argument in court

Even though these felony disenfranchisement laws undoubtedly discriminate against minorities, a far stronger argument in court would be the principle that once one has paid his debt to society (prison and/or parole/probation, etc.) that person should have his constitutional rights restored. By the way, I happen to think that that should also include the right to own a gun, by the way.

[loyalsister]

9. One of the best arguments

is the exact opposite of "if you act like a criminal you'll be treated like a criminal."
When people who have been incacerated are treated as if they are expected to exercise the same citizen responsibilities i.e. voting as the people who never get parking tickets, then maybe their expectations for themselves and their potential for contributing membership in their community will rise.

[roseBudd]

11. Felon disenfranchisment is Jim Crow. Mighty Texas Strike Force was in OH

on Nov. 02 calling former felons and threatening them and OH doesn't even bar former felons from voting.

Barring former felons from voting costs $$$$, not costs nothing.

[jody]

12. Those who assert a convicted felon should have his/her rights restored

after completion of their sentence are also asserting those convicted felons should be allowed to keep and bear arms because RKBA is a basic civil right.