Felons and the Right to Vote
Sara Duran-Campos
Professor Gould
English 111
December 12, 2012
Convicted Felons Should Not Be Allowed to Vote Many Americans were not allowed to vote these past elections. It wasn’t because they didn’t pay taxes or were mentally incompetent or underage. The reason why they can’t vote is because they are convicted felons. Certain states do not give back the right to vote after Ex-convicted felons have paid their debts or completed their time in jail. Some states have a probation period before the ex-felon is allowed to vote. There are some states that go to the extent to never return the right to vote to felons or ex-felons. The right to vote to felons should be taken away as a form of punishment. After completing their time in jail felons, which now are ex-felons, should have their right to vote restored.
A felony is a serious crime usually punishable by imprisonment or death. Felons are people that have been convicted of a crime such as murder, rape, arson, child molest, drug offender and burglary. Virginia is one of many states that takes the right to vote away from felons as a form of punishment. Maine allows felons to vote even when they are imprisoned. The act of taking away the right to vote from felons and ex-felons is called Disenfranchisement. People that are in favor of disenfranchisement believe that those convicted of a crime have shown poor judgment therefore, proves them unfit to make good decisions when it comes to elections.
Some believe that felon disenfranchisement laws also have a big racial impact because certain percent of population have their right to vote taken away more than others. Rates of incarceration and sentencing for African-Americans are higher than Caucasians, Latinos, and Native Americans. It seems like a good point but voting requires certain minimum standards of and trustworthiness. Those who have committed serious crimes against their fellow citizens do not meet the standards of voting. Discrimination when
Professor Gould
English 111
December 12, 2012
Convicted Felons Should Not Be Allowed to Vote Many Americans were not allowed to vote these past elections. It wasn’t because they didn’t pay taxes or were mentally incompetent or underage. The reason why they can’t vote is because they are convicted felons. Certain states do not give back the right to vote after Ex-convicted felons have paid their debts or completed their time in jail. Some states have a probation period before the ex-felon is allowed to vote. There are some states that go to the extent to never return the right to vote to felons or ex-felons. The right to vote to felons should be taken away as a form of punishment. After completing their time in jail felons, which now are ex-felons, should have their right to vote restored.
A felony is a serious crime usually punishable by imprisonment or death. Felons are people that have been convicted of a crime such as murder, rape, arson, child molest, drug offender and burglary. Virginia is one of many states that takes the right to vote away from felons as a form of punishment. Maine allows felons to vote even when they are imprisoned. The act of taking away the right to vote from felons and ex-felons is called Disenfranchisement. People that are in favor of disenfranchisement believe that those convicted of a crime have shown poor judgment therefore, proves them unfit to make good decisions when it comes to elections.
Some believe that felon disenfranchisement laws also have a big racial impact because certain percent of population have their right to vote taken away more than others. Rates of incarceration and sentencing for African-Americans are higher than Caucasians, Latinos, and Native Americans. It seems like a good point but voting requires certain minimum standards of and trustworthiness. Those who have committed serious crimes against their fellow citizens do not meet the standards of voting. Discrimination when