Felons can't vote in Florida but can be Senators in Alaska?

[louis c]

Figure this one out.

[BlooInBloo]

1. The reason why is obvious, of course.

[rcrush]

2. Felons can vote in Florida

Once they are out of jail. http://majikthise.typepad.com/majikthise_/2007/04/florida_to_let_.html

[pokercat999]

3. What is really sad is that you actually mean FORMER

felons. Once they serve their time they are (or should be) just regular citizens again. Continuing to treat former felons as less than regular citizens often leaves them with no real choice but to pursue more crime as they can't get a decent job or housing. Unless of course if they are white collar or rich felons then they become RW pundits and republican radio celebs.

[BlooInBloo]

4. Hm. I always thought that "felon" just meant "someone convicted of a felony"....

Shows how little I know.

[truthstream]

7. Actually...

you can be convicted of a felony and still not be a 'felon'. I was convicted of possession of cocaine, a felony, but my adjudication was withheld, so I can legally answer 'no' on an application asking if I have been convicted of a felony, and I still retain my right to vote. It is only if you are convicted of a felony and adjudicated 'guilty' without withholding that you are a felon and stripped of your rights, and as a previous reply states, Florida has now changed its law to state that when you serve your sentence (jail/prison and/or probation/parole) your rights are restored.

[lonestarnot]

13. Well there is restoration of rights to expungement. Not a thing wrong with that.

There is something to "if you can't do the time, don't do the crime."

[louis c]

5. Don't get me wrong...........

I believe everyone should have a right to vote, even prisoners. No one should be disenfranchised. Of course, prisoners should have to vote at their last known address, so as not to take over the small town a prison is in. However, no convicted felon, present or former, should be allowed to serve in a position of public trust.

Anyway, that's my opinion.

[pokercat999]

8. Nice, one small mistake, say selling a "friend" half your

stash (when you are say 20 years old) and your are a felon forever.....how fucking compassionate of you. Sure you're on the right site?

[louis c]

12. Once you make an exception, then we have Ted Stevens

Felons shouldn't serve. that's just my opinion. It's not a lot to ask. People with extenuating circumstances can receive a pardon if they wish to serve. Call me old fashion, but I like to be able to trust my elected officials. That's just me. However, you may have a point about time. Maybe we can use the same criteria they impose on union elections, that you cannot serve if you have been convicted of a felony in the past 7 years. How's that for a compromise.

[pokercat999]

16. That wasn't my concern, we have plenty of people to "serve"

which usually means turning reasonably honest people into felons.

My point (poorly made I guess) is the attitude of most RW'ers and religious nuts is that once a felon always a felon. Why not only have one prison sentence then.....life, that is in essence what you are doing. My thought is, if you have served the time you are free of the crime and all should be forgiven and forgotten. The only exception would be in future court sentencing proceedings where history is pertinent, not in the trial but in the sentencing after conviction.

As far as "I like to trust my elected officials" I have known several criminals the were not dishonest, actually they had a code of strict honesty, they just didn't respect the law. Especially the vice laws.

Your "compromise" is just like adding seven years to their sentence and it's not fair treatment, I know it, you SHOULD know it and most certainly the released felon knows it.

[lonestarnot]

14. LOL.

:)

[cali]

11. All felons except for those convicted of an election related crime can vote in my state

of Vermont, and yes, their last address is generally the one used, but I believe that even inmates from other states, incarcerated in VT can vote after meeting certain requirements. And here we have elected a convicted Felon to the Congress; Matthew Lyon at the turn of the 19th century was in prison when he was elected.

[Freddie Stubbs]

6. The Constitution sets the qualifications for Senators

States cannot add any further ones.

[KharmaTrain]

9. He's Only Guilty In The Real World...Not Alaska

No offense to our delightful Alaskans DUers. Senator Tubes says he's innocent...he's only guilty in the eyes of some elitist lower 48 jurors, but not with his "own" people...and we still see at least 40% of the voters in that state who seem to agree.

[Egalitariat]

10. Felons can be Senators in any state***

nm

[lonestarnot]

15. All that is needed is money, guns, lawyers and votes! Woohoo!

:evilgrin: