DISCLAIMER

This blog is an assignment for CMP272 Spring A 2009 to allow students an opportunity to present a valid argument, generate feedback (pro and con), post responses, and practice moderating skills in a technological environment.

CONFUSION ABOUNDS!

Because of inconsistent and perplexing laws governing the right to vote for convicted felons, a national law should be mandated to allow felons the ability to regain their voting rights upon completion of all imposed sanctions.

PICTURE THIS...

You are a functioning adult with all of your mental capacities. You are a contributing member of society; you work, you pay taxes, and you are successfully supporting your family. You also have been disenfranchised. This means that some of your rights as an American citizen have been taken away, especially the right to vote-- the most important one being your right to vote in national elections.

According to the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) May 2008 survey, 5.3 million Americans can no longer vote because of a felony conviction. Or, so those Americans think. Unclear voter registration forms makes regaining this right difficult for felons. Because of inconsistent and perplexing laws governing the convicted felon's right to vote, most people (from the felon to the election official) have no idea whether or not that person can vote. Additionally, voter registration forms fail to include the information that makes the guidelines for each state clear. If there was a national law in which all state voting guidelines were the same, like upon completion of probation or parole the felon could vote, it would benefit not only the convicted felon but the U.S. as a whole.

The right to vote is at the heart of the integrity of American democracy. Being disenfranchised means that you are no longer trusted to make a competent decision about who your leaders will be.

"Disenfranchisement laws work against the successful reentry of offenders."
-American Probation and Parole Association

Many people believe that because of the nature of their crimes, felons can't be trusted to make good political decisions. Why not give them a second chance to prove they can be trusted with this type of decision? Giving them this responsibility back makes them feel more a part of the U.S. and aids in their reentry. One of the felon's biggest concerns when incarcerated is feeling left out and left behind. Regaining their voice in politics is one more way for them to feel as though they can still make a difference as a productive member of society after their release.

One reason that many felons do not vote is because of the disenfranchisement laws. Each state's disenfranchisement laws are different. Many states actually restore a felon's right to vote after completion of all sentences or upon release from incarceration. Felons are not made aware of this! Virginia and Kentucky, the two states with the most oppressive disenfranchisment laws, have influenced all felons to believe that their right to vote has been taken away forever.They are not told that they can vote again, so they don't even try. Furthermore, registering to vote incorrectly is a crime in itself. Why would a felon try to register to vote with the chance of commiting another crime if they have decided to live a crime-free life?

The disenfranchisement laws throughout the country are confusing and oftentimes even the election officials do not know the laws in their own state. Many times the wording on the registration forms are also very confusing. The ACLU did a study on the registration forms in all states and found that the most common mistakes were:

1) Incomplete, innaccurate or misleading information on who can vote and for what duration.
2) Bad information on how to restore their right to vote
3) Confusing format to present the state's disenfranchisement laws
4) No guidence in the proper way for a person with a criminal record to register to vote.

In theory, the way to correct this problem is to make a national law in which all states and the District of Columbia must follow the same voting legislation. The first and foremost being that the felon regains their right to vote upon completion of their sentence, unless disenfranchisement was made a seperate punishment. The second being that all felons receive guidence in how to regain their voting rights and how to register properly. Changing these laws to be more understandable and easier to abide by would benefit the entire country. Felons are people too and should have a voice in society like all the rest of the U.S.

Monday, May 11, 2009

i think that if they have done a crime and they have done the time and it wasent a severe crime they should be allowed to get their rights back
Posted by at No comments:
I think that all rights that a felon chooses to loose when they commit their crime. Even though some of the crimes might not be as bad as some. They made their choice. Whether it be because of drugs or other things then maybe they should have thought twice. Peer pressure is no excuse
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Thursday, May 7, 2009

Lynette's opinion

I agree with most of your statements. Although I think that any Non-violent offenders should be able to obtain their voting rights after their time is served, what happens to the ones who just keep doing the crimes. Should they be allowed? It is a very sticky situation and it sucks for the ones who get caught once and learn thier lessons and are trying to better themselves. Good job guys, you had very good and informative points.
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View from an advocate

The idea of national standards for voting rights does sound good, although it can not happen without a constitutional amendment. Who qualifies to vote is a state-level decision, with broad guidance on the federal level.

So advocate for changes to state laws, see that probation includes information on re-enfranchisement (?), and connect with people working in related areas.

It's an up-hill battle. Legislators score cheap points by adding penalties to ex-convicts and saying they are 'tough on crime.' As a nation we haven't decided if people are to be punished or rehabilitated, so neither is accomplished. Only with enough support can things be nudged in a better direction.
Posted by at No comments:
I think that it depends on the severity of the crime. For instance, if a mayor is caught tampering with the votes or they have done something that they otherwise would be unable to do if they were not in office. Those people should lose their right to vote because they have done something to lose that right.
Posted by at No comments:
Depending on what the crime was should be whether you have the right to vote, it shoud be reinstated under defferent circumstances.
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Kim's opinion

This is a good argument. It is hard to distinguished who should have voting privileges and who should not. I guess it would have to depend on the severity of the crime.
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Gina's Opinion

I feel that your right to vote should be reinstated after your time is served. I think that if you allow the right to vote to be reinsatted for one type of a felon, then it should happen for all. Taking a persons right to vote away should be a seperate punishment, maybe for crimes political in nature.
Posted by at No comments:
I think that it depends on the type of crime whether or not you get your voiting rights back. But as people say everyone deserves a second chance. So I think that they sould give them back to certain people.
Posted by at No comments:
Certain people should get their voting rights back depending on their charges. Some should have second chances.
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Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Blog Under Construction

This blog is under construction! When it is ready for posting, you will be advised! :o)
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REFERENCES

http://felonvoting.procon.org/viewresource.asp?resourceID=286

http://www.wvgazette.com/Opinion/Editorials/200805260324

http://www.aclu.org/votingrights/exoffenders/37003prs20081001.html

http://www.aclu.org/votingrights/exoffenders/37001res20081001.html

http://www.ncsl.org/programs/legismgt/elect/voterights.htm

http://www.aclu.org/votingrights/exoffenders/statelegispolicy2007.html

http://felonvoting.procon.org/viewresource.asp?resourceID=286