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 inelig…
Read moreNarrow down which types of responses you would like to see.
Narrow down the conversation to these participants:
Discussions from these authors are shown:
@59CBZLK5yrs5Y
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.
@MyraMedchan3yrs3Y
When I think of felons I think of hard core sociopaths who would play the system if it meant they could go back and do terrible things again. I wouldn’t expect them to vote responsibly just as I wouldn't expect a person with alsheimers or dementia to vote responsiblly.. not all 'criminals' fall into this category and I agree that rehabilitation would be preferable to incarceration. but some may be so far gone from humanity that rehabilitation may not be viable. And
@9RLVFS510mos10MO
How different would your opinion be if this discussion was not about voting rights, but a right to free speech? If you disagree with somebody's opinion, should the government be given the power to silence it? The first amendment protects all citizens from an abuse of power by the government, and voting should be considered part of free speech.
Maybe some citizens are too senile to make an informed decision when voting, but what entity could ever decide who is *too* senile in all fairness without the possibility of abusing that power? Maybe some criminals do not care about what's bett… Read more
@TheHillbillyLordRepublican2mos2MO
Free speech means they can express their opinions. Voting is a privilege that someone can easily get if they aren't a criminal. A criminal can still express their opinions, they just can't take part in government. If they can convince others to agree with them, then that's fine.
@TheHillbillyLordRepublican2mos2MO
Murderers deserve to die. No questions asked.
@8T4WYSK4yrs4Y
Most Felons actually do have the right to vote after they get out of prison/jail.
@9T2JF6SPeace and Freedom9mos9MO
The judge should be the one to decide in court weather or not the convicted criminal is able to vote.
@96JBVD93yrs3Y
It depends on the crime committed. Serious charges such a murder and other violent crimes or repeated offenses of such crimes should be enough to revoke that persons ability to vote. However, being convicted of a minor crime should not be enough to take away the right to vote.
@96C5YRS3yrs3Y
yes, except for felons convicted of murder of violent crimes, and they need to have completed their sentences and parole/probation
@95SQBZM3yrs3Y
That only depends on what crime they commit.
@94QBWM43yrs3Y
Yes, but a mental health check must be administered on all criminals, except for violent crime committers and murderers.
@94KG6PWProgressive3yrs3Y
Yes, as long as they weren´t convicted of a major crime.
@93GZ33H3yrs3Y
Yes, except for felons convicted of murder, violent crimes, political corruption, or if there are any issues on the ballot that their crimes directly affected.
@8ZMWDD63yrs3Y
Yes, except for felons convicted criminally insane and murderers
@8YYBN9S3yrs3Y
yes, except for those that were convicted of felonies
@8Y2SBB93yrs3Y
Depends on what they are convicted for. The crime committed should depend on their ability to vote.
@8Y2SB89Republican3yrs3Y
Maybe. It depends what they do.
@8XNQSN84yrs4Y
depends what the crime was, how minor, major, and possibly relevant but everyone should have a right to vote
@8WYLV6P4yrs4Y
@8WR79J24yrs4Y
Yes except for crimes that intentionally put other humans in danger no matter the degree.
Yes, and also allow those in prison to vote.
@8V5M8H64yrs4Y
Question is too vague. Depends on the severity of the crime.
@FreeManDespair4yrs4Y
Depends on the crime. Felons should have their citizenships revoked and, if possible, banished to a different country
Yes except for felons convicted of murder, violent crimes, and sexual assault
@8S2QPLTIndependent4yrs4Y
Yes except for violent crimes and economic crimes
@8N6XXGK5yrs5Y
Yes, except for individuals convicted of murder, and molestation And crimes on that level
@8MMQ99L5yrs5Y
They should depending on the crime they were convicted for, if it's non violent I think they should.
@8LK3KPH5yrs5Y
Minor crimes should not preclude voting rights
Yes, but only after completing their sentences and parole and if they are not convicted of violent crimes
@8L2H9795yrs5Y
Yes, but only if the current election cycle will be in effect when they are released.
@8KNFBKXLibertarian5yrs5Y
Yes, but only for non violent criminals who have repaid their debt to society including any time incarcerated and any restitution.
@8KHG79Q5yrs5Y
No if convicted of crimes i vving moral turpitude
@8KCD6H25yrs5Y
Criminals of non violent crimes should have the right to vote after completing sentences and parole/probation
@8HQ43HK5yrs5Y
Yes, but if they’ve committed murdered or an actual felony no.
@8HGHSP75yrs5Y
It depends on how serious their crime was that they committed.
@8HF8FFC5yrs5Y
If the criminal is behind bars or in jail/prison then they should not have the right but, if the convicted criminal is out then they should be able to vote.
@8HF7M2M5yrs5Y
Yes, any misdemeanant should be able to vote. But, a Felon who has not completed their sentence should not be able to vote.
@8H9QN2N5yrs5Y
Would need to research this more, but I'm inclined to say that parolees should be allowed to vote.
@8D77Z9C5yrs5Y
If they killed someone, raped someone, or did something bad to that extent they dont deserve to leave jail... but selling drugs sometimes is is not a choice a wanted choice so those people should get the right to vote after serving their sentence.
@8CBD64G5yrs5Y
I think it should be based on the crime.
@9BKBFGZWomen’s Equality2yrs2Y
Yes, unless they are a convicted felon, but only after completing their sentences and parole/probation
@9BDRBKD2yrs2Y
depends on the crime shawty
Yes, except for instances of rape, incest, or repeated murder/violent crime
@98V2YVJ2yrs2Y
No, but should be considered after completing their sentences and 1 year rehabilitation curriculum after release.
@98TVHCT2yrs2Y
Depends on what the convicted criminal did to become a criminal.
@98TVH2R2yrs2Y
It depends what they have done, i think that everyone should have the right to vote but it could be bias
@98RDPVR2yrs2Y
Yes, but after completing their sentences and after proving they have no mental disorders
@98NY4SJ2yrs2Y
yes if they reformed or the crime was minor
@98NCLMQ2yrs2Y
No felons or sex offenders should be allowed to vote. For misdemeanors, the criminal is only allowed to vote after they have been released, and after they have been approved by the government.
@8Q22Y8D4yrs4Y
Non-violent felons should be able to vote after they have completed their incarceration, probation, and has proved to their probation officer that they have changed into a productive member of society.
@8PLBFZV4yrs4Y
Yes, except for felons convicted of murder, violent crimes, or sex crimes, and only after completing their sentences and parole/probation
@8MKTCPH5yrs5Y
Yes, unless what they are convicted for should make them disqualified to vote.
Depends on the crime and whether or not they have been rehabilitated
@8F3KY6J5yrs5Y
I believe that it depends on the crime committed.
Join in on more popular conversations.
