Ex-felons and voting

Great Debates
1

Let’s discuss ex-felons and whether they should have voting rights. I suggest this thread in response to this editorial from the NY Times (requires registration).

The editorial is already somewhat out of date, since Florida has apparently decided to scrap it list of names to purge from voter registration rolls. Link.

Key points:

  1. Such lists have been deeply flawed in that past, due to various causes, in that many non ex-felons have also been disenfranchised.

  2. Ex-felon voting rights appears to be a highly partisan issue, since a majority of ex-felons tend to support the Democrats.

My opinion? Once someone has finished serving time, their full civil rights, including voting, should be restored. Anything less is a betrayal of democratic principles and the ideals of criminal rehabilitation.

Your thoughts?

2

I think even inmates should be able to cast their vote. Even prisoners are still citizens of this country.

3

Normally I don’t do this, but it was just a week ago we did this topic. :slight_smile:

4

Ah, crap. I looked for such and missed it.

Mods, please close this thread.