Ruling: Washington state felons can vote in prison

[Patranus]

Felons in Washington state prisons should be allowed to vote, a federal appeals court ruled today.

The 2-1 decision, by a panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, overturns a state law that banned felons from voting until they are released and off parole. Two judges said the law violated the Voting Rights Act and discriminated against racial minorities, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports.

http://content.usatoday.com/communi...-washington-state-felons-can-vote-in-prison/1

I see....

Nice to see the door open up for the criminal lobby.

 

[Jaskalas]

http://content.usatoday.com/communi...-washington-state-felons-can-vote-in-prison/1

I see....

Nice to see the door open up for the criminal lobby.

I knew it was the 9th circuit as soon as I saw the headline. Dems gain another voting block.

 

[spidey07]

So where is the fight to give them their 2nd amendment rights as well?

*crickets*

I heard about this and had an immediate WTF! They played the race card yet again. We'll let felons vote, but god forbid we ask for ID!

 

[Cogman]

Wait, so washington is saying that only non-whites are arrested or only non-whites are allowed to vote? Because, it would have to be one or the other for me to pallet the race card being played. Since it is neither, that is retarded.

 

[mav451]

What the heck. It's one thing to vote after you get out (and served your time) - but when they're actually _IN_ jail? /facepalm

 

[Robor]

So where is the fight to give them their 2nd amendment rights as well?

*crickets*

I heard about this and had an immediate WTF! They played the race card yet again. We'll let felons vote, but god forbid we ask for ID!

Uh, I was asked for my ID when I voted.

Also, why is it assumed all felons vote D? Way to stereotype. :awe:

 

[MotF Bane]

This won't hold.

 

[Zorba]

Uh, I was asked for my ID when I voted.

Also, why is it assumed all felons vote D? Way to stereotype. :awe:

I was in Ohio, never in Oklahoma or Kansas.

 

[spidey07]

Uh, I was asked for my ID when I voted.

Also, why is it assumed all felons vote D? Way to stereotype. :awe:

There was nothing partisian in my response, not intended or implied.

I have a very real problem with voting and gun rights being restricted on felons, as long as they have served their time and during that time those rights restricted (that's what prison is). After that, don't care, they are free men.

 

[Moonbeam]

Good. Almost no mature black male can vote. It is just another way to marginalize the poor so they can be kept that way.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Wait, so washington is saying that only non-whites are arrested or only non-whites are allowed to vote? Because, it would have to be one or the other for me to pallet the race card being played. Since it is neither, that is retarded.

Circuit Court Judge A. Wallace Tashima wrote that attorneys for six prisoners who filed suit had "demonstrated that police practices, searches, arrests, detention practices and plea-bargaining practices lead to a greater burden on minorities that cannot be explained in race-neutral ways."

It looks like they are extending the right to vote to prisoners because the police pick on minorities? If the police are harassing innocent minorities, does it not make more sense to reform the police than granting felons the right to vote while in prison?

 

[spidey07]

It looks like they are extending the right to vote to prisoners because the police pick on minorities? If the police are harassing innocent minorities, does it not make more sense to reform the police than granting felons the right to vote while in prison?

FACT - blacks commit felony crimes much more than whites.

 

[Patranus]

It looks like they are extending the right to vote to prisoners because the police pick on minorities? If the police are harassing innocent minorities, does it not make more sense to reform the police than granting felons the right to vote while in prison?

If these people were on trial and their right to vote was taken away then you might have a point BUT these people committed a crime regardless of their race.

 

[Cogman]

It looks like they are extending the right to vote to prisoners because the police pick on minorities? If the police are harassing innocent minorities, does it not make more sense to reform the police than granting felons the right to vote while in prison?

Could the white prisoners vote? No? Then the practice of keeping prisoners from voting is NOT racist.

Who cares if the police arrest more minorities? They are STILL convicted. If they feel so strongly that these people are wrongly convicted then maybe the should worry more about getting them aquited/reforming the legal system that arrests them, and less time worrying about whether or not they can vote from jail.

I fail to see how disallowing voting from prison is a racist action. The two issues are completely unconnected. Are we going to say that disallowing prisoners from having knives is also racist?

Heres a hint, an action is racist when it singles out a person based solely on race. The linking factor to prisoners not being able to vote is the fact that they are prisoners, not the fact that they are some minority. (even though they are not all of the same race)

 

[Patranus]

Could the white prisoners vote? No? Then the practice of keeping prisoners from voting is NOT racist.

Who cares if the police arrest more minorities? They are STILL convicted. If they feel so strongly that these people are wrongly convicted then maybe the should worry more about getting them aquited/reforming the legal system that arrests them, and less time worrying about whether or not they can vote from jail.

I fail to see how disallowing voting from prison is a racist action. The two issues are completely unconnected. Are we going to say that disallowing prisoners from having knives is also racist?

Heres a hint, an action is racist when it singles out a person based solely on race. The linking factor to prisoners not being able to vote is the fact that they are prisoners, not the fact that they are some minority. (even though they are not all of the same race)

The voting act is what is actually racist.

 

[her209]

Does a person cease "being married" because they are in prison?

 

[palehorse]

Does a person cease "being married" because they are in prison?

I'm not quite sure what point you're trying to make...?

 

[theflyingpig]

Yet another example of liberal stupidity.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

LOL... The 9th Circus rules again! These guys get slapped down more than a woman married to a mullet wearing, moster truck enthusiast.

 

[WHAMPOM]

Good to see reason and justice triumph.

 

[jackschmittusa]

Though the reason for the change seems to be bogus, I would think most people would agree that serving a term in prison does not revoke all of your rights. It would seem that there is room for discussion about which individual rights should be suspended.

Can anyone present a rational argument as to why voting should be one of them?

 

[Zebo]

Never understood that prisoners could not vote. As if they are inhuman or something.

One man one vote. Just cause we decide he needs to spend some time staring at walls I don't see how this changes his form.

 

[ayabe]

For non-violent offenders I don't see a problem with this, however for murder/rape/assault etc, no f-ing way.

Hate to bring this up again, but there wouldn't be this huge racial disparity in prison population if not for the war on drugs, let's work on fixing that and the rest will fall into place.

 

[Fear No Evil]

Why limit it to voting? They should be able to hold office.

 

[Argo]

Never understood that prisoners could not vote. As if they are inhuman or something.

One man one vote. Just cause we decide he needs to spend some time staring at walls I don't see how this changes his form.

Then why do felons lose their rights for life, liberty and pursuit of happiness? Committing a felony carries certain punishment with it.