Preview

Why Should Prisoners Be Allowed To Vote

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1279 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Why Should Prisoners Be Allowed To Vote
Does a person who’s committed a crime get the same Constitutional voting rights as a person who has followed all the laws? As of 2016, prisoners who’ve finished their sentences are allowed to vote. If the convict is on probation or parole, they are not allowed to vote. (www.aclu.org) There are only two states that allow prisoners to vote. If they are a citizen of Maine and Vermont, while behind bars, the convicts have the right to vote in the elections. There are about 5.85 million Americans, 2.5% of the voting population in the US are prisoners. After finishing their time, convicts will be released back into society. It is against the Constitution to restrict the voting rights of prisoners and the convicts opinion shall be appreciated even when not used. Prisoners contribute useful tips into society. Thus, prisoners should be allowed to vote.
If prisoners were not allowed to vote while in prison and be trusted to make right decisions on deciding on leaders, it will lead to them ending back into prison. A realization will come into play when the convicts are released back into society. Prisoners should have a right to who runs their country, governments, states, etc., because
…show more content…
In the opinion of many it is an essential concept for prisoners to be allowed to vote. If felons are allowed to vote, while in jail it can help them stay active participants with what is going on in politics, and society, and this will help them when they are released because they will know everything that has happened. In the eighth and ninth amendment and the government laws, in substance, state that it is illegal to deny prisoner their right to vote. Not many U.S. citizens vote, when they are allowed the right to, if prisoners were allowed to vote, there would be more contributions to the polls. Convicted felons should be allowed the right to vote, along with every other American

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    Felons Right to Vote

    • 1154 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The lines are long, it’s raining, it’s hot, or it may be cold, but exercising your right to vote is as important as all of your other civil rights. As Americans we have came a very long way when it comes to protecting our civil rights, and choosing the right candidate to protect our country. In 1964, three civil right activist set out to set up a voter’s registry for African Americans, but it was short lived because they were brutally murder by members of the Klu Klux Klan in Philadelphia, Mississippi((IMBD). This helped pave the road for African Americans to get out and register to vote. Not long ago, only one-third of African Americans were registered to vote, and two third of the voters were white, because African Americans was terrified of voting, or they chose not to. While voting is a right that we all have, if you have committed a crime and it has been classified as a felon, in most states you are restricted from voting. Since the Voting Rights Act of 1965, there has been a significant increase of voters at the polls. It has increased significantly in the African America and Hispanic populations and due to this, President Obama, an African American, was voted into office in 2008, and is now serving his second term. There have been many protests regarding felons voting and their civil rights being violated. While three great men lost their lives over such a significant cause in Mississippi, in order for a convicted felon to vote in Mississippi, his or her state representative must personally author a bill reenfranchising that individual. Both houses of the legislature must then pass the bill. Re-enfranchisement can also be granted directly by the governor. (“ProCon.org”). …

    • 1154 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Revoking convicted felon’s rights to vote has been an issue at hand in politics since the beginning of our nation. Edward Fesser published an article in the magazine titled City Journal called “Should Felons Vote?” In the article he is arguing against the views of Democrats and their motives for restoring convicted felons voting rights. He says their motives are to expand their chances in winning an election. Edward Fesser’s argument is weak because he fails to provide substantial evidence supporting his arguments on the disenfranchisement of felons.…

    • 783 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    I think a convicted felon should have the right to vote after they spend their sentence in prison and finish with parole. I will give you three reasons why they should. My first reason is they are citizens like us and they might not be guilty. My second reason is ever though there not out and free they do watch TV to see what’s going on. My final reason is if it was polices officer or a famous person they still are aloud. The next paragraph I will tell you about my first reason.…

    • 495 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    According to the law, everyone is entitled to vote, to be specific, the age of 18 and above. I believe felons should be allowed to vote because people make mistakes. There are many people who want to live right, they can’t because they are being kept down, the situation they’re in leads them to be in a bad place. For example, if a person commits theft, it’s most likely they’re poor. He/she steals because they are desperate for what they don’t have; basic needs or necessities of life. I believe felons should be allowed to vote, even if they are criminals, they deserve a second chance, it is not fair to take away their right to vote. This is as if like taking away their freedom of speech. Everyone has a voice and it should stand out, even if…

    • 211 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Voting is a duty that must be fulfilled by every citizen at some point in their lives. Voting gives the citizens of the U.S. a chance to express themselves through an anonymous voice. There are a few restrictions on voting, which include age, citizenship, and in some states weather you’re a convicted felon. I believe that it is unfair that some states make it so felons can’t vote. I really believe felons should be allowed to vote simply because everyone makes mistakes, and some felons have to rejoin society eventually.…

    • 559 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    I believe that criminals should retain certain civil rights because they are in fact humans at the end of the day and are still American Citizens. I believe they should still have access to certain rights because to me, it would be inhumane to completely abolish all the rights of the individual that is being punished. I believe that there should be rights that are considered permissable but that are not in contradiction to the rules or regulations of the prison where the individual is captivated. These individuals all come from somewhere, either a family, friends, or a work environment. I believe that the lives of many are impacted by the restraint of the individual and if the individual that is convicted can't stay sane due to the lack…

    • 200 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The number of Americans who cannot vote because they have been convicted of a felon continues to rise. According to the National institute of justice about a quarter of felons are in prison, but the rest have completed their sentences and are on probation or parole. The only reason not to let them vote is to stigmatize them or to continue punishing them. Voting would help ex felons re-engage with society by showing them that they have equal importance in the society, for example ,it shows that their opinion is just as important as anyone else's. Also, this may not always be a good thing. Not all ex felons can be trusted and not all ex felons judgment and credibility can be trusted.…

    • 442 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    As previously stated, I feel that a policy integrating criminals into the electorate should have minimal limitations, however, I do feel there is a need for certain provisions and limitations. The first limitation of the policy would be that if the ex-felon was convicted of a hate crime, felony rape, or first degree murder. Crimes of these…

    • 608 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Many have heard the saying “if you do the crime, you must do the time”. This saying signifies that if one acts upon a certain action, he/she must live with the consequences of their actions. For the most part, prison is a consequence for offenders. However, ex-offenders are still suffering the consequences of their actions even after doing “the time”. Certain ex-felons upon release from prison have their voting rights taken away from them, depending on the state. Some may petition to get voting rights restored but many do not have the opportunity. Ex-felons spend years paying their debt to society only to come out and continue to be punished. Not being allowed to vote is not fair to the ex-felons, and their right should be restored.…

    • 2365 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Persuasive Essay Felons

    • 439 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Felons should be able to vote after they have finished with their sentence. This would help our country and the people in it, would allow wrongly convicted people to return to a mostly normal life, reduce the crime rate and stop the US from violating the fourteenth amendment. Those should be enough to convince anyone that felons should acquire their rights once again after they have served their…

    • 439 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Should prisoners have the right to vote? In the US not all states have the same laws. Depending on the states law, the person with a felony or misdemeanor can or cannot vote. It also depends what type of felony the person has committed. The right to vote is privilege that we all get, but in some states it can be taken away permanently. “Felon voting has not been regulated federally although some argue that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act can be applied to felon disenfranchisement and that Congress has the authority to legislate felon voting in federal elections” ("State Felon Voting Laws."). The right to vote should be taken away if the person becomes a prisoner.…

    • 747 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Although, people think that not letting ex-felons to vote is unconstitutional and unfair, ex-felons should not have the right to vote as soon as they leave prison, but should undergo a program that helps those who want to change so that they could potentially gain their rights back. Ex-felons should not have the right to vote after they get out of prison because the highest authority, the president and high government officials, expressed no interest in changing the law so it seems like it is here to stay. If people can't meet the standard of society and the law, they shouldn’t be able to vote. If ex-felons couldn’t follow the law, they can't make the law for everyone else.…

    • 1520 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Healthcare in jails and prisons is a very important subject. All inmates are required to receive healthcare while incarcerated. Some think that it is unfair that inmates get healthcare and people who are not incarcerated have trouble receiving healthcare. If inmates are denied healthcare then the Eight Amendment would take effect. This would be considered cruel and unusual punishment. If an inmate knows his or her rights then they could sue the correctional facility for being deprived of proper healthcare. Healthcare is administered to inmates based on what type of health condition he or she is in. Whether it is dental, medical, substance abuse or even if they have a mental disorder. They have to be assessed before they can receive healthcare. Even though inmates can get healthcare there are some issues that facilities run into while trying to give healthcare assistance to inmates. Even though there are problems, healthcare should be given to inmates because you never know what type of health issue he or she may have.…

    • 975 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Unemployment In Prisons

    • 721 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Losing rights as a felon is terrible, not only does it ruin how people see you due to the fact that you had been arrested of somethings that was bad enough to be a felony but it also takes away several rights that can have a huge impact on someone's life. Voting rights are protected by the constitution and they are taken away from people. Many men and women who have been convicted of felonies have a terrible time getting jobs and that makes it so much harder for people to get one that pays well. In places they have ways that you can regain your…

    • 721 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    This essay discusses my reflection on whether or not felons should have the right to vote. A felon is defined as a person who has been convicted of a felony, which is a crime punishable by death or a term in state or federal prison. A felony is a serious crime usually punishable by imprisonment or death. Convicted felons should not be allowed to vote. Many Americans were not allowed to vote these past elections. It wasn’t because they didn’t pay taxes or were mentally incompetent or underage. The reason why they can’t vote is because they are convicted felons. Once someone has committed a serious crime or felony, they have shown that they are not trustworthy enough to vote. Because they disobeyed the law, they should not have the obligation to vote. If one is sent to prison, they have agreed that most of their rights have been taken. Prison is meant to be a punishment and one of their punishments is their loss of freedom and democratic rights for their time of their sentence. Convicted felons have also demonstrated poor judgment and should not be trusted with a vote. The main point of a prison sentence to show the offender and society that criminal behavior results in loss of freedom and most of the rights that freedom has to offer. Therefore felons should not be allowed to vote. Although some people believe that felons should be allowed to vote at any circumstance but I believe that if they are felons they have already lost that opportunity because they have decided to make the choice to participate in criminal activities. If the felon is not willing to follow the law himself, then they should not demand the right to vote. In California, felons serving time in prison or county jail are denied their right to vote. According to The Sentencing Project, 5.3 million Americans were unable to vote in 2008 due to a felony conviction. Unfortunately, statistics show that this number is expected to rise to 6 million.…

    • 574 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays