Can ex-felons vote in Iowa now?

[bluestateguy]

This topic came up in my class. We talk every semester about this issue of ex-felons' voting rights. I know that Iowa had a law barring all ex-felons from voting permanently. But then I seem to remember Governor Vilsack earlier this year issuing some kind of a blanket pardon, to in effect make the law irrelevant? Am I missing something?

[DU9598]

1. Yes, they can

But republicans are suing to stop the change in the law because most felons - I guess - are more likely to vote Democrat. In a purple state every vote counts, so of course republicans will want to stop the votes from counting.

[Debi]

2. I still don't get all of this...

Do they have to have their fines paid before they can register? Do they have to be off of probation? Or is it when they get out of prison they can register to vote?

[Lurch762]

3. I think it is embarrassing

I got hammered on this issue all summer. My less intelligent friends (Repukes)wouldn't drop the point that felons would vote the way I do. How do you counter that? And don't even get me started on how they insisted that Bin Laden and I both hoped Kerry would win the election.

[IA_Seth]

4. My thoughts...

I guess I dont see why it is really something to be embarassed about?

Sure, perhaps the majority of ex-felons would vote Democratic, but so do the majority of women if I recall correctly, and minorities for that matter. All sorts of groups that have been looked down upon by the "white male" society at one time or another tend to vote Democratic.

Maybe you could point out that maybe they vote Democratic because the Democratic party is the one that promotes justice, inclusiveness, and diversity.

My opinion is that if they served their time, I feel that they deserve the chance to vote.

[Debi]

6. Agreed Seth!

:applause:

[Debi]

5. I'm not embarrassed that our Governor believes in equal rights

for all of Iowa's citizens.

I just don't know the rules behind it. Brandstad had an archaic program that took years to work through before a person could regain their rights.

I just wonder if they have to finish their probation and pay their fines or if when they leave incarceration can they register.

Not allowing citizens their rights is truly a tragedy, republicans who are fighting this are the ones who should be taking the heat.

[Cairycat]

9. I believe they can vote before reparations are paid

and this is a big sticking point for the Rethugs because "they haven't paid their debt to society".

Seems like it could be a pretty big obstacle for many ex-felons.

That's another thing that bugs me - in many right-winger letters to the editor or even the mainstream media (W'loo Courier is pretty bad for this) people who have served their time are *still* referred to as felons. In my book, if you've served your sentence, you're an ex-felon.

Don't know if having finished probation is a requirement or not.

Thanks to the OP for bringing this up.

[Debi]

10. Like serving time in Anamosa isn't paying a debt to society

could you imagine Bill Dix or Bob Brunkhorst spending even one day in prision?! :eyes:

[4dsc]

15. There is a process you have to go through

Voting rights are reestablished after the felon as completed his/her sentence and has made restitution. I was fortunate, in that my parole officer made the recommondation to the state for rights restoral. There is some paperwork you have to fill out and then the state sends you their decision.. That was under bransted..

Under Vilsak, I inquired about getting my second admendment rights restored and you have to wait 10 after your release from parole before this adminstration will review it and make a decision.. I don't know how long it was under Branstad..

Any other questions??

[bluestateguy]

7. White collar or blue collar felons?

I'd be willing to bet you that Bernie Ebbers of World Com and all the felons from Enron and Tyco would be happy to be able to vote and vote Republican once they serve their sentences.

[rurallib]

8. You weren't embarrassed that Iowa and Mississippi were the

only states that didn't allow ex-felons to vote? I was much more embarrassed by that. Restoring the rights of citizenship should be one of the basic steps in rehabilitation to help someone who has paid their debt to society to hopefully become a contributing member. To not do that is embarrassing.

[pstans]

11. Have to ask this question

The question to ask is if the person is rehabilitated after their sentence is completed. The reason for going to prison is to serve the time and be rehabilitated to reenter society. If they have served their time and are rehabilitated then why shouldn't they be able to vote?

Republicans are the once that believe that Jesus died to save people from their sins. Yet they are the ones that think once a criminal, always a criminal. It is yet another example of Republican hypocrisy.

[Cairycat]

12. How do you define rehabilitation?

Wasn't that the problem with the previous system - ex-felons had to be able to express themselves well enough to convince whomever was granting the right to vote that they were "rehabilitated". I'm sure I don't know what would be that fairest way of determining that, but the previous system was not it. Giving the vote to those who have served their time seems to me, though, to be the simplest and most equitable way.

I think you hit the nail on the head - many Rethugs simply do not think it is possible to be forgiven or for people to reform. This is another shining example of (many of them) claiming to be Christians yet thinking and acting completely contradictory to Christ's teachings.

Since any discussion of this in the media is always framed in political terms, who gets votes from it or who wants to exclude some people's voices, this non-belief in forgiveness/rehabilitation never comes up. Too bad, it could highlight a lot of the differences between the parties.

[Hungy]

13. The Streets

As far as I'm concerned, any man or woman who can walk the streets deserves the right to vote. These people are as much a part of society as we are, even if they've done some terrible things. If we truly believe, as we must in a civilized society, that the purpose of putting someone in jail is to correct them, then why would we not consider these people corrected?

Jesus, some people just have no compassion whatsoever.

[Lurch762]

14. What about the victim?

I agree that these folks need to be brought back into society, for our good as well as theirs. But Society isn't a government institution. It's you and me. If I have something taken from me in a crime, I don't think he's paid his debt until I am reimbursed. If I lose something that can't be replaced - my life or life of a loved one - he has to stay their forever. Those Enron assholes shouldn't vote or see the light of day until all pensioners are made whole. If after their jail time, they have to be out to work to make payments, no voting for them until they replace what they stole.