Voting and Rights
By Modestah
@Modestah (11177)
United States
June 16, 2007 10:57pm CST
Should incarcerated persons be permitted to vote in political elections?
Is voting to be considered an inalienable right, or is it a privilege which ought to be suspended during such times of conviction.
If it should be suspended, does that exclusion continue for a time frame after their release? or would it depend on the type of crime - or should it just be reinstated as soon as they are again "free"
1 person likes this
4 responses
@FSCAries (881)
• United States
17 Jun 07
I think that the way they handle felons and voting now is correct. If the person wants to vote after having commited a crime that prevents them from it, there are certain actions that can be taken to restore voting rights for those that ought to have it. I think that voting is more of a priveledge in that if you can't abide by the laws for the land that you live in, you ought not be able to decide on how it is to be ran.
3 people like this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
17 Jun 07
Voting is a right, but not an inalienable one. We already have many restrictions on voting (citizenship, age, registration, etc), so being incarcerated is just another one.
I do think that once a person is done with their sentence, parole or probation, they should have their voting rights returned to them.
2 people like this
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
18 Jun 07
No way...no how. It is a privilege that they lose when they break the law. Did you notice in the news that Florida just allowed 16,000? felons to start getting voting rights? That's a little scary.
1 person likes this
@tinamwhite (3252)
• United States
17 Jun 07
I also believe that voting is a prvilege...it should not be something that a prisoner is able to do....I also feel that if they have committed a felony that they should loose this ability from then on....political decisions in the country in which they have broken the law should not be decided with input from them, in my opinion.....
