Few felons taken off voting rolls

[DoYouEverWonder]

October 26, 2006

Unlike previous years, there is little to prevent felons in Palm Beach County from voting next month.

Although felons are supposed to be removed from the voting rolls, so far county officials have received only 12 names from a new state-run program developed by election officials in Tallahassee. Previously, the county clerk of courts prepared a list for local elections officials that typically had about 4,000 names each year.

The problem, says Jenny Nash, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of State, is that the state does not have the time or resources to find felons who registered to vote before Jan. 3. It was on that date that the state took over the job of checking the voting rolls.

In other words, any of the approximately 33,000 people released from state prison last year who were registered voters remain on the state's voting rolls.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2006/10/26/a9a_felon_1026.html

Now that Choicepoint isn't purging the voter rolls, it seems that a lot few people are being removed from lists. Gee, who woulda thunk it?

[dipsydoodle]

1. UK rules :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_the_United_Kingdom#Eligibility

Currently actual prisoners are ineligible to vote but as far as I'm aware that subject is under consideration to include them too. Past offendors have always been eligible to vote as far as I'm aware but I'm not sure of their eligibilty for jury service which is a connected issue.

General exclusions for the whole population are very few - only real absolute condition is that you need to be on the electoral register which is prepared a few months before each and every October.

edit: to insert missing words - doh

[Benhurst]

4. Yeah, but we're the World's Only Superpower.

We have the world's oldest written constitution, which we no longer follow but preserve in sealed containers filled with gas under Plexiglas, which we bought at astronomical expense from the Diebold corporation.

Can Britain's unwritten constitution be whisked into an underground vault at a moment's notice? I thought not.

We've got criminals running the country. We don't need them voting as well.

[w4rma]

2. ex-felons. (nt)

[wakeme2008]

3. Is somebody looking for excuses why the Repugs lost seats

Like Felons were allowed to vote.

Sounds like somebody is building an excuse case to me.

[underpants]

7. Yeah these former dregs of society have like a 110% voting record

amazing how some time the slammer awakens one to their civic duty and the virtues of democracy

:sarcasm:

[bowens43]

5. Good. If they've paid for their crime they should be abe to vote.

[TheCowsCameHome]

6. Oops. I though you meant more RW candidates were running.