Should incarcerated convicts get the right to vote?

[Stevinator]

Most people who can vote don't want to anyway, so I guess the whole thing is just an academic debate.

this is why this is an important issue. all those guys in jail have much less on their plates to think about. so their votes are worth more.

[fiend!]

Just ask Katherine Harris, she was an authority on ex-felons and anyone with their namesake. She could get you somewhere.

[Anakha1]

Interesting and rather frightening that some of you think of voting as a privilege (at least spell it correctly for Christ's sake) instead of one of those lame inalienable rights that are in that wacky document that we sometimes use - you know, the Constitution. It is a right, plain and simple, though perhaps not while in prison.

That doesn't necessarily make it a right that can't be taken away. Rights can be withheld legally.

[dantose]

I say we don't allow felons to express any political view either. They gave up that right when they broke the law. We should also force them to convert to buddism. They gave up that right too.

You're right, we do have to draw a line. I draw it at violent criminals not owning handguns. What are they going to do with a ballot? Give someone a nasty papercut? Gun restriction swere placed because there was a specific, identifiable risk associated with violent criminals owning guns. That risk does not exist for other rights such as freedom of speach and the right to vote.

[Stevinator]

I say we don't allow felons to express any political view either. They gave up that right when they broke the law. We should also force them to convert to buddism. They gave up that right too.

You're right, we do have to draw a line. I draw it at violent criminals not owning handguns. What are they going to do with a ballot? Give someone a nasty papercut? Gun restriction swere placed because there was a specific, identifiable risk associated with violent criminals owning guns. That risk does not exist for other rights such as freedom of speach and the right to vote.

I believe the fear is, that prisioners esp the ones who did the worst crimes, have a vested interest in the failure of our great nation...they might vote for the worst candidate on purpose.

oh and smeg is afraid they'd vote democrat.

[Anakha1]

Personally I think when someone goes to jail their *** should belong to the state. They have the right to life and reasonable treatment but beyond that not much else. They are there to be punished and to be rehabilitated.

We coddle prisoners way too much.

[Damascus]

As far as I'm concerned, when you go to jail, you give up your right to be able to leave the prison. They don't lose their citizenship or anything. They're still Americans (I'm using them as an example) to me, so their vote counts just the same as mine.

[jimmyboy]

Frankly, I doubt that voting rights is the number one priority among convicts. I'm sure they'd trade it for a woman (or man), increase safety, lower prisoner abuse, cable TV, private toilets, or just about anything else including a decent cigarette. I'd even wager that convicts belong to the 49% of the American population who chose to not excercise their democratic rights.

And NO! I've never been in the joint.

[Steel_Avatar]

I wonder if I could get elected on a platform of pardoning all criminals?

[Crispyknight]

So breaking a fundamental law of humanity is grounds for denying the right to vote, but not grounds for execution? I'm just trying to see where and why you draw the line, because in my head I can't make "breaking a fundamental law of humanity" sync up with "deserving of being denied two or more rights, at least one of which has nothing to do with that fundamental law he broke."

I draw no line. Killer; be killed. Its just the American justice system doesn't allow for proper reprisals ans encourages criminals to continue. If you commit a felony, a person shouldn't have any rights. No voting. No driving. No visits by family. You chose to not be part of society; its only fair that society chooses to not have the criminal involved in any capacity.