Should Felons be Allowed to Vote? Florida to Have Referendum

[Katganistan]

I can see people might argue that convicted felons might vote for things that would benefit crime; however, it seems to me that once one has paid his or her debt to society, they should be allowed to rejoin it.

[Donut section]

I have been convicted of crimes considered felonies in the states and I do not believe I should have the right to interfere with others lives through voting, until such a time that most government departments are replaced with private means.

[Genivaria]

I can see people might argue that convicted felons might vote for things that would benefit crime; however, it seems to me that once one has paid his or her debt to society, they should be allowed to rejoin it.

By that logic farmers shouldn't be allowed to vote because they'd vote for things that would benefit farms.

[NeoOasis]

I can see people might argue that convicted felons might vote for things that would benefit crime; however, it seems to me that once one has paid his or her debt to society, they should be allowed to rejoin it.

By that logic farmers shouldn't be allowed to vote because they'd vote for things that would benefit farms.

Amusingly I've heard that logic being used against felons. Seems silly when you apply it to other people such as farmers or women.

"women shouldn't be allowed to vote because they'd vote for things that benefit women."

Ultimately if felons get the right to vote, no one is going to suddenly legalize murder and grand theft auto. They might vote for prison reform though...

[Outer Sparta]

Yes, and we should loosen most of these draconian voter restriction laws anyway.

[Katganistan]

I can see people might argue that convicted felons might vote for things that would benefit crime; however, it seems to me that once one has paid his or her debt to society, they should be allowed to rejoin it.

By that logic farmers shouldn't be allowed to vote because they'd vote for things that would benefit farms.

I know, hence the second half of the statement that once they've paid their debt to society the should be allowed to rejoin it.

Otherwise, we shouldn't be surprised by recidivism. If we make it impossible to find a job and to rejoin society, "wtf I might as well just keep stealing/scamming" becomes a way to survive.

[Telconi]

I can see people might argue that convicted felons might vote for things that would benefit crime; however, it seems to me that once one has paid his or her debt to society, they should be allowed to rejoin it.

By that logic farmers shouldn't be allowed to vote because they'd vote for things that would benefit farms.

Farming isn't a crime though...

[Genivaria]

By that logic farmers shouldn't be allowed to vote because they'd vote for things that would benefit farms.

Farming isn't a crime though...

Again, considering what you can be imprisoned for that's not really a reasonable standard.

[Telconi]

Farming isn't a crime though...

Again, considering what you can be imprisoned for that's not really a reasonable standard.

I'm not saying every felony crime deserves this punishment, but acting like 'criminal' is just another demographic who's wishes should be catered to is absurd.

[Katganistan]

Again, considering what you can be imprisoned for that's not really a reasonable standard.

I'm not saying every felony crime deserves this punishment, but acting like 'criminal' is just another demographic who's wishes should be catered to is absurd.

No one is saying that everyone should be absolved; there's a prohibition against murderers and sex offenders in the bill.

Would you like to be judged for one mistake you made for life? Would it be fair for people to bring it up thirty years later? "Oh yes, Telconi -- they don't deserve to have a job because they were an underage video game enthusiast. They played AO games when they shouldn't have been able to!"

[Arumdaum]

Doesn't go far enough, in my opinion. Prisons should have polling booths, as far as I'm concerned.

Ya no.

why not

[The Black Forrest]

Ya no.

why not

Conviction of a crime has to cost you rights. Voting should be part of it. Having said that, you serve your punishment; said rights should be restored.....

[Ifreann]

why not

Conviction of a crime has to cost you rights. Voting should be part of it.

Why? Is being locked in prison and denied a vote going to rehabilitate people where only being locked in prison wouldn't?

[The Black Forrest]

Conviction of a crime has to cost you rights. Voting should be part of it.

Why? Is being locked in prison and denied a vote going to rehabilitate people where only being locked in prison wouldn't?

*shrugs* How is voting in prison going to rehabilitate them?

[Genivaria]

Why? Is being locked in prison and denied a vote going to rehabilitate people where only being locked in prison wouldn't?

*shrugs* How is voting in prison going to rehabilitate them?

Does it need to for them to keep their rights?

[Telconi]

I'm not saying every felony crime deserves this punishment, but acting like 'criminal' is just another demographic who's wishes should be catered to is absurd.

No one is saying that everyone should be absolved; there's a prohibition against murderers and sex offenders in the bill.

Would you like to be judged for one mistake you made for life? Would it be fair for people to bring it up thirty years later? "Oh yes, Telconi -- they don't deserve to have a job because they were an underage video game enthusiast. They played AO games when they shouldn't have been able to!"

Some mistakes are worth permanent consequences.

[Des-Bal]

The only purpose to laws like this is to skew demographics. If you can push the numbers a few points by passing a law and making it sound reasonable then it's just good strategy to do so. The reason people care about felons voting and voter id laws is because these ones and those ones tend to vote a certain way and if you keep them away from the polls you can get a leg up in any election.

[Cedoria]

Not really a fan of restricting voting for any adults...

If it MUST be done for felons, then only for those serving over a certain sentence, and only WHILE they're serving it. None of this disenfranchising someone for life once they've served a sentence and done their time bullshit.

[Cedoria]

The only purpose to laws like this is to skew demographics. If you can push the numbers a few points by passing a law and making it sound reasonable then it's just good strategy to do so. The reason people care about felons voting and voter id laws is because these ones and those ones tend to vote a certain way and if you keep them away from the polls you can get a leg up in any election.

Pretty much this is true. Hence why I don't like the idea of restrictions at all.

[Cedoria]

No one is saying that everyone should be absolved; there's a prohibition against murderers and sex offenders in the bill.

Would you like to be judged for one mistake you made for life? Would it be fair for people to bring it up thirty years later? "Oh yes, Telconi -- they don't deserve to have a job because they were an underage video game enthusiast. They played AO games when they shouldn't have been able to!"

Some mistakes are worth permanent consequences.

If you serve a prison sentence for 10 years, society has deemed your crime worth serving 10 years for.

Why punish them beyond that? If you think the person's crime or error deserves more than 10 years, a longer prison sentence is the answer.

This idea of punishing people for a crime they've already paid their repentance for strikes me as a pretty weird one.

[USS Monitor]

The only purpose to laws like this is to skew demographics. If you can push the numbers a few points by passing a law and making it sound reasonable then it's just good strategy to do so. The reason people care about felons voting and voter id laws is because these ones and those ones tend to vote a certain way and if you keep them away from the polls you can get a leg up in any election.

I think that's more true of voter ID laws.

With felon disenfranchisement, some people might be influenced by strategic concerns, but I think it's also something people care about as a matter of ideological principles. People have different ideas of what it means to have a criminal record and how that should affect a person's place in society.

[Des-Bal]

I think that's more true of voter ID laws.

With felon disenfranchisement, some people might be influenced by strategic concerns, but I think it's also something people care about as a matter of ideological principles. People have different ideas of what it means to have a criminal record and how that should affect a person's place in society.

Maybe for people on the ground but not when you're talking about people who make laws. The reasons these discussions tend to be partisan is because felons skew democrat, Florida's laws on felon disenfranchisement are absolutely draconian because Florida is a swing state. Under Crist it was still bad but over ten times as many people were having their voting rights restored. Rick Scott tightened them in 2011 because despite the best efforts of republicans blacks showed up to the polls in force for the 2008 election. This is an issue of strategy and strategy rises above petty things like ideas.

[Neutraligon]

I think that's more true of voter ID laws.

With felon disenfranchisement, some people might be influenced by strategic concerns, but I think it's also something people care about as a matter of ideological principles. People have different ideas of what it means to have a criminal record and how that should affect a person's place in society.

Maybe for people on the ground but not when you're talking about people who make laws. The reasons these discussions tend to be partisan is because felons skew democrat, Florida's laws on felon disenfranchisement are absolutely draconian because Florida is a swing state. Under Crist it was still bad but over ten times as many people were having their voting rights restored. Rick Scott tightened them in 2011 because despite the best efforts of republicans blacks showed up to the polls in force for the 2008 election. This is an issue of strategy and strategy rises above petty things like ideas.

Can you source the claim felons skew Democrat?

[Sungai Pusat]

Maybe for people on the ground but not when you're talking about people who make laws. The reasons these discussions tend to be partisan is because felons skew democrat, Florida's laws on felon disenfranchisement are absolutely draconian because Florida is a swing state. Under Crist it was still bad but over ten times as many people were having their voting rights restored. Rick Scott tightened them in 2011 because despite the best efforts of republicans blacks showed up to the polls in force for the 2008 election. This is an issue of strategy and strategy rises above petty things like ideas.

Can you source the claim felons skew Democrat?

It's a survey, but it might count for something

On the other hand, it could be argued that the numbers skew so far because of the demographics of those imprisoned, making it incidental that most felons are Democrats. Still does imply a partisan line, though ideally no one would argue along those lines.

[Neutraligon]

Can you source the claim felons skew Democrat?

It's a survey, but it might count for something

On the other hand, it could be argued that the numbers skew so far because of the demographics of those imprisoned, making it incidental that most felons are Democrats. Still does imply a partisan line, though ideally no one would argue along those lines.

I can only read the abstract, but that seems to be about felons who are able to register to vote. I do not know if it represents those who are not allowed to register/vote.