Should ex-cons be allowed to vote, Holder thinks so

[rudeguy]

Why the hell should people be entitled to vote after they've smoked some marijuana?

 

[Zorba]

Using that same logic, you'd be fine then with the convicted felon having a weapon then right? After all, he's now a rehabbed functional law abiding person and should retain all his constitutional rights? () Or is it just certain rights that should be re-instated to benefit one political party?

I say if the person was convicted on voting fraud, or other election related felonies, no more vote, otherwise they are good to go once they have finished their full sentence.

Same goes for guns, if the were busted for violent crime, no guns. If they were busted for a non-violent crime, why shouldn't they be allowed full access after their sentence is over.

 

[BUnit1701]

A citizen who has paid his debt to society should have a vote.

This.

If they served their time then give them their full freedom.

The whole point of prison is to rehab the person - so, they can become a functional and law abiding person (or, to deter someone and enforce they continue being functional law abiding people,..); why in God's name should they not be allowed to vote, after they serve their time in prison?

Very interesting. Then I assume you are also OK with them having their right to self defense as recognized under the 2nd amendment restored as well?

 

[Oldgamer]

A citizen who has paid his debt to society should have a vote.

I agree, and will never understand the mentality that they must continuingvpaying for thecrest of their life.

 

[HumblePie]

Yep, lets just let previous multiple time convicted child sex molesters have a clean slate why don't we? Put them in charge of a day care. They paid their debt to society the last time they were in prison right? They have to be rehabilitated from the last time they were in.

 

[CitizenKain]

There is no reason to disallow voting for people who have served time.

 

[rudeguy]

There is no reason to disallow voting for people who have served time.

Do they get to own guns too?

 

[surfsatwerk]

Very interesting. Then I assume you are also OK with them having their right to self defense as recognized under the 2nd amendment restored as well?

Why not?

 

[Newell Steamer]

Very interesting. Then I assume you are also OK with them having their right to self defense as recognized under the 2nd amendment restored as well?

Cover already with Pokerguy (for myself) - yes.

 

[surfsatwerk]

Yep, lets just let previous multiple time convicted child sex molesters have a clean slate why don't we? Put them in charge of a day care. They paid their debt to society the last time they were in prison right? They have to be rehabilitated from the last time they were in.

What is the point of having finite sentence if we wish to imprison these people indefinitely?

If a crime is so heinous that we wish to follow them around the rest of their life then the sentencing should reflect that.

 

[boomerang]

Right now, it's a decision made at the state level which is how it should remain. We don't need more of big government coming in and throwing their elbows around. If you're concerned you're going to lose some rights in Arkansas if you commit a felony, either don't do the crime, or if you're just itchin' to commit a felony, do it in a state with laws for convicted felons you agree with.

If we let the liberals left chip away over time at the punishments for breaking our laws, we will eventually hand people that break those laws a fucking check. Don't for one minute think that's exaggeration. They see a convicted felon and get concerned about who kicked his dog when he was six because that's the root of his discontent and he shouldn't be punished because he's still lashing out over what happened to his dog.

 

[TheSiege]

If you commit voter fraud you shouldn't be allowed to vote after prison. If you commit a crime with a gun you shouldn't be allowed to own a gun after prison. If you commit a sex crime you should have to register as sex offender

 

[surfsatwerk]

Right now, it's a decision made at the state level which is how it should remain. We don't need more of big government coming in and throwing their elbows around. If you're concerned you're going to lose some rights in Arkansas if you commit a felony, either don't do the crime, or if you're just itchin' to commit a felony, do it in a state with laws for convicted felons you agree with.

A person's eligibility to vote should not vary state by state.

 

[boomerang]

A person's eligibility to vote should not vary state by state.

Why? What has changed?

 

[Darwin333]

Using that same logic, you'd be fine then with the convicted felon having a weapon then right? After all, he's now a rehabbed functional law abiding person and should retain all his constitutional rights? () Or is it just certain rights that should be re-instated to benefit one political party?

When you commit a felony you willingly permanently give up the right to vote. I don't see a problem with that.

It seems that the sole reason that you don't support this is you feel like they will mostly vote for the party that you don't support.

 

[TheSiege]

I really doubt the ex-con voter turnout will have any real impact on the election. The justice system is fucked up, maybe its time to hear the voices of the people who were in it.

 

[soulcougher73]

A citizen who has paid his debt to society should have a vote.

This.

 

[Zaap]

I say it should be determined on an individual case-by-case basis. Something that's considered and approved of (or not) at the parole/release stage.

 

[surfsatwerk]

Why? What has changed?

It's wrong and should stop.

 

[rudeguy]

I say it should be determined on an individual case-by-case basis. Something that's considered and approved of (or not) at the parole/release stage.

which would be extremely unconstitutional.

 

[soulcougher73]

Why cant we just stick with one topic? Why do you have to bring in guns and child molestors etc when talking about this issue? They dont relate.

You can have an opinion on one without the other one affecting it.

My opinion would be yes they get the right to vote once they served their time, unless that time was servered for voting related issues. And this same logic would apply to guns and child molesters. Child molesters should get a clean slate except when its dealing with children for example.

This isnt rocket science to be able to seperate issues.

 

[Zaap]

which would be extremely unconstitutional.

Not necessarily. It just depends under what authority the determination would ultimately be made.

I suppose it could handled by a federal court hearing, but that'd just introduce another layer of money/time-consumption.

Ultimately it's the same decision being made that says ex-cons can be deprived of their right to vote- there's just no individual determination being made to restore the right.

 

[PokerGuy]

It seems that the sole reason that you don't support this is you feel like they will mostly vote for the party that you don't support.

Actually, I'm OK with either side, I don't see why voting was ever tied to criminal punishment at all, but since it is, I find it objectionable that Holder is advocating this specific issue now to gain a new voting block.

 

[PokerGuy]

Why cant we just stick with one topic? Why do you have to bring in guns and child molestors etc when talking about this issue? They dont relate.

They actually do relate. The discussion centers around stripping someone of their rights because of a felony conviction.

 

[PokerGuy]

The justice system is f*cked up, maybe its time to hear the voices of the people who were in it.

Yeah, let those who choose to commit crimes against others have a bigger say in how the country is run. That should work out well