Re:Remind HN: Vote
by CWuestefeld on Tuesday November 02, 2010 @04:56PM
(#1862311)
fourteen states, eleven of them in the South, ban anyone with a felony conviction from voting for life
I agree that this is heinous. Through this means, the political process can hijack the judicial system to eliminate dissent. This means, for example that anyone who had been convicted of sodomy (back when that was still a crime, and if it had been a felony) would be barred from participating in the democratic process, e.g., for pursuing gay marriage.
When someone servers their term, they should be given their citizenship rights back.
But: are you willing to also return to them their 2nd Amendment right to keep & bear arms? (for the record, I am)
I got curious, so rather than going lunch, did some Wikipedia reading here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voting_rights_in_the_United_Sta.... Turns out the right to vote cannot be denied based on :
* Religion (in Constitution is found in Article VI, section 3. * "Race, color, or previous condition of servitude" (15th Amendment, 1870) * "On account of sex" (19th Amendment, 1920) * "By reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax" (24th Amendment, 1964)
Conversely, this means that the right can be denied based on other factors, just not one of the above.
It also says: "As of July 2007, fourteen states, eleven of them in the South, ban anyone with a felony conviction from voting for life." This is outrageous, and should be considered a cruel and unusual punishment! When someone servers their term, they should be given their citizenship rights back.