Should prisoners get the vote?

[Perfection]

I find constitutionality problems with not allowing felons to vote... All citizens above 18 have the right to vote according to the constitution, so do felons lose citizenship when convicted?

No they don't.

18th ammenment, section 1:

The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age or older, to vote, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of age.

Those with felony convictions can do and IMHO should lose thier right to vote.

Though I would argue that after their time is served, the should regain thier rights

 

[Evil Tyrant]

People in prison should not be permitted to vote, those convicted of crimes have forfeited their rights by violating the law. Once freed they should have all rights, including the right to vote, restored to them.

 

[CIVPhilzilla]

For minor offenses they should get too, more serious offenses they shouldn't.

 

[Irish Caesar]

I voted yes. In the US it is just used as a fancy way to disenfranchise African Americans.

Seems like more of a way to disenfranchise felons to me, as I can't imagine race was a factor in taking away voting privileges from felons.

 

[JohnRM]

If any person has been convicted of any criminal offense and is serving a sentence for that offense which confines them to a prison/jail cell, they should not be allowed to vote. For those who commit minor criminal offenses, they should be allowed to vote once their sentence is fulfilled. For those who commit serious criminal offenses, they should be prohibited from voting, forever.

 

[Babbler]

IIRC, prisoners can vote in Canada, regardless of the nature of their crime. I heard the go conservative big time.

You decide what that means.

 

[downtown]

Dont see why somebody shouldnt be allowed to vote after they pay their debt to society. seems pretty simple to me. if you're locked up, you dont get to vote. Once you're about, and off probation and whatnot, then you should have all rights, including voting, restored. People can change.

 

[amadeus]

If they can make it to the polling station, sure.

 

[Ramius75]

Nope, they are not allow to vote, once they broke the law, this is part of the punishment they get. Like losing their freedom.

This is also to prevent campaigner to make promised amnesty if they get elected.

But once they are out of prison and served their time, they should get their rights back.

 

[Black_Hole]

No they don't.

18th ammenment, section 1:

The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age or older, to vote, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of age.

Those with felony convictions can do and IMHO should lose thier right to vote.

Though I would argue that after their time is served, the should regain thier rights

Amendment 14, section 1:

Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

The only way for an exception to this would be in the constiution, as only the constiution can have exceptions for its laws...
A federal law cannot make an exception in the constiution

 

[HighlandWarrior]

I thought the question was if People actually in prison at the time of the vote should be allowed to vote, to that i say no one imprisoned at the time of the vote should get to vote.

After they get out of prisons only non-felons should get to vote. see fearlessleader2's comment for why.

 

[cgannon64]

Felons should not be able to vote while they are in prison. They have lost their rights until they are released.

 

[Nobody]

I think that while they are in prison then they shouldnt be allowed to vote. but as soon as they are out they can again. Also the 1984 stuff wont happen if you have a fair legal system with jurys

 

[Elrohir]

In the US the way we have it is if you are a convicted felon you cannot vote for the rest of your life. And I think that's fair. But if you are convicted of a misdemeanor, which aren't as bad, then you can still vote. i think that's the way it should be.

So, I assumed minor offense means misdemeanor in England, and I took option number 2.

 

[Gr3yL3gion]

People who have been in prison shouldn't get the right to vote, even after they serve their sentences.

 

[Serutan]

@Black Hole - You didn't read the amendment carefully enough. "...nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law" means that
a State can deprive any person of life, liberty or property with due
process of law; i.,e. if a person has been duly tried and convicted according to the
law, they can be legally deprived.

 

[North King]

Prisoners should get the right to vote. Why? Because they still live in this country, and our decisions affect them, but the turning point for me was the sudden realization that not all prisoners are guilty. Denying an innocent person the right to vote is too much for me to stomach. Give them all the vote.

 

[slip79]

What if they are on home detention?? What happens then?
I remember reading a few weeks ago that here in NZ you can vote if you are in prision if your sentence is less than 3 months.
That seems fairly fair to me.

 

[Narz]

I don't really see why they shouldn't be able to vote.

I dunno. I don't think murderers, rapists and molestors should have a say in the laws of the country.

Pot smokers and petty theives are ok.

 

[Insane_Panda]

Should men who have stolen, killed, embezzled, raped, and done other horrid things be allowed to choose our government? I don't think so.