united-states us-constitution fourteenth-amendment
Clarification on Amendment XIV
<p><a href="https://www.senate.gov/civics/constitution_item/constitution.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Amendment XIV</a> says:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors
for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives
in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the
members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male
inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens
of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation
in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein
shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male
citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one
years of age in such State.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>What does it mean? A State can abridge the right to vote of persons 21 years of age or older <em>except</em> in case of rebellion or any other crime? It seems logical it would be the contrary: irt could not abridge the right to vote except for rebellion or any other crime</p>

<p>It says if some portion of the electorate is deprived of the right to vote then the state looses an equal proportion of its representation in Congress (and therefore electoral college votes). There is an exception &quot;rebellion, or other crime&quot;. So if a state disenfranchises X% of the population for rebellion or crime they <em>do not lose</em> X% of their representatives/electors.</p>
