Do prisoners in the United States have the right to vote in National elections?
366499
no.\n\nVermont and one other state allows voting on State issues, but the others don't. \n\nIt's called disenfranchisement. A pretty good way to get the wrong people out of the voting booths; just make them felons. Got rid of a lot of blacks that way. \n\nHmm. If everyone became a felon, and couldn't vote, would it still be a democracy?
180051
More in depth info about the people, or more about the process? The process varies from state to state. Most restore the right to vote upon release from prison or parole/probation if part of the sentence. The first site below is an organization working to restore voting rights in all states. The second is a PDF with an excellent summary of the disenfranchisement laws in the various states.
230904
Only citizens of the country, 18 years or older are able to vote. In some states felons are not allowed to vote. For information on becoming a citizen, see the site below. To register to vote, see the second site.
1098904
I thought they could vote once they are off probation or parole for the offense?
1118201
First secret prisons, maybe for terrorest who are arrested outside the US,  there are no civil rights people who are not american citizens outside the US.  Only those rights of the Geneva Convenction, (human rights)\n\nWe are trying to judge military prisons or prisioners of war under the wrong idea of what they are, they do not, never did get consititional rights.\n\nEven in WWII, the US took away the constitutional rightrs of Japanise americans and put them in camps and they lost thier property in the US during this time.\n\nAnd no people are not spying on liberals, why they tell more than they know to start with.  The only spying is to track and trace telephone calls of posible terroest links ( and emails and regular mail)  \n\nMerely alot of issues taken out of context by the opposing public party that cares little about destroying our war effort if they can win an election.
596040
Yes. I think citizens should have to pass a simple test to vote. As an example, for a national election you should have to be able to name at least one of your State's Senators and the current President. Ever watch Jay Leno's Jay Walk bit. It's really an eye opener.
118076
Because felons violated societies rules to the extent that they gave up their rights as citizens, usually infringing on someones right to life, liberty, or pursuit of happiness.  Not being able to vote again is part of the consequence of their crime.  If criminals don't like the consequence it is very simple don't break the law.
932048
Technically they always had the right to vote - but were prevented from doing so by narrow interpretation of the constitution. \n\nIn both cases amendments were made to the constitution clarifying this (15th amendment guaranteeing that race was not a factor, and 19th guaranteeing that sex was not a factor). \n\nAdditionally another amendment was added dropping the voting age to 18 (26th amendment).\n\nIn your case, undocumented workers aren't citizens, so it's not just a matter of clarifying the existing statement which guarantees citizens the right to vote. \n\nInstead you would need to add an amendment granting undocumented workers (non-citizens) the right to vote. In order to do that, you would need to convince the congress to propose the amendment, and then need 2/3 of the states to ratify it (vote for it). \n\nThat's a lot of people to convince.
155529
Its not illegal...\nIt maybe illegal in the US and thats because of voting for the wrong people
1155931
The constitution gives states the right to govern elections, and as all things at the state level, laws regarding elections are passed by the state legislature. The laws are enforced by the Division of Elections of the Department of State.
272810
In the respect that the US possesses territories that do not have equal access to due process under the law, then no, we do not have colonies.  Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Marianas Islands have access to the US system of justice; some of them have different local laws, but US federal law still applies in all of those places.  All of those places can exercise the right to leave the US if they so choose, or change their legal status.  All of the US' territories do not have voting representatives in Congress, but they do have elected non-voting delegates; only states can be represented there by voting members.
44418
It's a privilege that's a responibility, meaning if you are a felon you loose the privilege to vote.  If you aren't an US Citizen you can't vote.  \n\nNow it's a responibility because it is a part of good citizenship.  A right not used is a right denied.
1117607
This is my view.. if non-citizens are detained on the basis of religion, race, or national origin, then that simply means that the US is not living up to there their stance that it is a free country. I would agree for every right for religion, and that the US should not be biased against a place where you are from, or the colour of your skin. Whats important is that the person is not a murderer, and the person stick to the law, and that person contributes accordingly to the development of the country. In other words, the detaining due to those conditions is prejudice, and thus absolutely unfair.
979564
Federal law prohibits posession of any firearm by a felon.\n\nVoting rights may be restored to felons, on a state-by-state basis.
261413
they can vote unless they have been convicted of a felony, and then they have no rights until they go through the process of having their civil rights restored which can take years to do sometimes.  However, if they are in jail or prison they would not be able to physically go out and cast a ballot
704315
Yes, because part of the "choice" in a democracy is not to vote for anyone at all. (Although a "none of the above" option on a ballot would suffice for that.)  The problem is that Americans don't believe that they have a duty to vote.
759598
No. Payment of taxes, residency, and voting are completely separate issues. Voting, participating in the government of a country, is properly restricted to citizens of that country. In fact, by law, an American citizen who votes in another country's elections forfeits his American citizenship.