In April 2016, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe issued an executive order which restored voting rights to more than 200,000 convicted felons living in the state. The order overturned the state’s practice of felony disenfranchisement, which excludes people from voting who have been convicted of a criminal defense. The 14th amendment of the United States prohibits citizens from voting who have participated in a “rebellion, or other crime” but allows states to determine which crimes qualify for voter disenfranchisement. In the U.S. approximately 5.8 million people are ineligible to vote due to voter disenfranchisement and only two states, Maine and Vermont, have no restrictions on allowing felons to vote. Opponents of felon voting rights argue that a citizen forfeits their rights to vote when they are convicted of a felony. Proponents argue that the arcane law disenfranchises millions of Americans from participating in democracy and has an adverse affect on poor communities.
@ISIDEWITH6yrs
Yes, every citizen deserves the right to vote
@ISIDEWITH6yrs
Yes, but only after completing their sentences and parole/probation
@ISIDEWITH6yrs
Yes, except for felons convicted of murder or violent crimes
@59CBZLK2yrs
Yes, every citizen deserves the right to vote. Felons should be the first to vote as they have a right not to be subject to cruel and unusual punishment. This is also a way to show felons that society has not given up on them. We should try and rehabilitate felons rather than solely incarcerate and punish them.
@8T4WYSK1yr
Most Felons actually do have the right to vote after they get out of prison/jail.
@4STBS9G2yrs
Yes, because there is nothing that a felon could vote on that would hurt the well-being of everyone else. Also, I think that the last thing felons think about while committing a crime is their distain from not being able to vote any more.
Yes because they are still people, my Dad was in prison for getting two people killed in a car accident after drinking. He amazingly survived and was sent to prison for 7 years because he did community service. He had an accident because he was young and dumb and managed to accidentally take the lives of 2 people. That doesn't make him a monster, why would you take someones natural right to vote away over an accident. Drunken driving is no joke but it's not like he would have done it with his own bare hands. Now other crimes have similar to results to this, most that were too extreme wouldn't matter because of the life sentences that were given to the murderers and such. It's very controversial and i'm not even truly sure but I do know that not all convicts are bad.
@daemonkity2yrs
Yes, every US citizen should have the right to vote regardless of their circumstances. One person = one vote.
@597386T2yrs
No way! Why would a person who broke the law of our land get to decide who will govern our nation? Hate governs them, and they should not be allowed to have the same rights as the American citizen.
@963VJ791hr
After investigating yes
Bro she wants me to do this and now she is mad that I am doing it!?!?!
Yes but only if they didn’t commit a serious crime or is on a government watch list.
@963R5VL7hrs
I believe every felon should have the right to prove they are reformed and are a viable member of society that deserves a say in Government. If they pay taxes, they deserve representation. It is an American Standard.
@963QR5H7hrs
I would like for them to vote but i would also like if there was some sort of rehabilitation to help re direct them into the correct path
@963Q8ZP8hrs
I believe if you were convicted of a higher crime such you should not have the right to vote.
@963PQ2P8hrs
Unless they are convicted
@963PCJQ8hrs
More research is needed on my part.
@963KGYR10hrs
Dependent on the crime the person commits and if they serve their full punishment.
@963JKBN11hrs
No, Although I believe once they have served their term or are proven un-guilty they should be able to vote.
@963HXK811hrs
No, because as some people of the law say, once you're arrested and convicted you are no longer a citizen (temp.)
@963HXFS11hrs
It depends on the crime, if it is something small than yes, but a major conviction, then no.
@963HX9611hrs
Yes, but it depends on which crimes were committed by that felon and if they were the one to actually commit the crime.
@963HKH911hrs
only after going through a trial based on what they did should / shouldn't they be allowed to vote based on the trial.
@963HJH7Independent11hrs
yes, but only those up to medium security down to minimum security
@963H34D11hrs
Yes and they can vote for crime to be legal
@963DM3S13hrs
if its for things like petty theft then yes but if they were convicted of worse crimes like murder then no
@963D9HD13hrs
Yes, because their still a citizen
@963BZPK13hrs
Yes, most people would think that convicted felons and violent crime offenders shouldn't be able to vote, however there are unfortunately some people that are convicted felons unfairly, and the justice system did them wrong. For me it all just depends on the situation.
I feel both ways about it.
@9638JJ914hrs
Yes, with exclusion of certain egregious crimes against persons. Violence, sexual violence, crimes against children/disabled/elderly. Additionally, only after full completion of sentance.
@9638G3M14hrs
Only if the crime wasn't awful, like murder, some other violent crime, or even rape
@96388T615hrs
People who are diagnosed with specific mental illnesses that may cause them to think violently and uncontrollably should not be able to vote
@963236J1 day
Yes, with a certain amount of completion of community service and parole after serving their time.
@962YSH21 day
Yes except for felons of any offense, and only after completion of sentence or parole
@962YH8Q1 day
Yes after they do their time and if they pay taxes
@962XZR91 day
yes after a therapist can confirm that there not completely immoral
@962WCW41 day
No one should be allowed to vote. Give the US a monarchy. The US needs a monarchy.
@962HRBX1 day
it depends on the type of crime that was committed because criminals are outside the confines of society when they break laws the criminals forfeit a voice regarding choices for or against a law or levy and a choice on voting for or against a law makers
@962XFJS1 day
Yes, except for felons convicted of murder or violent crimes and only one full after completing their sentences and parole/probation
@962VYCR1 day
5 years after completing their sentence and/or parole
@962T45P1 day
Depends on the issue and the severity of the crime
@962STYF1 day
Yes, but only after completing their sentences and parole/probation, but not for felons convicted of murder or violent crimes,
@962QXWW1 day
Yes everyone should have the right to vote no matter what they have done. You can't take away someones voting right for something they did for example; Someone drinks while driving and kills someone, no matter what happens they might get other punishments but taking a vote away is just useless why would you want to take their vote away if they get a right to vote in the first place.
@962PS3D1 day
yes but with some retrictions
@962PH5B1 day
those who havent gone to jail for for anything doing with voting
@962NYMQRepublican1 day
Yes they should be allowed but only after parole/probation and as long as the crime wasn't something such as murder or rape.
@962NQBP1 day
Depends on the crime and how they acted while convicted and after they are released
@962NPSJRepublican1 day
it depends on the crime and how the person acts after they get out of jail/prison
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