Why won't they let felons vote?
822317
When you break the law, you show your disdain for organized community and the rules that govern it. Voting is a priviledge, not a right, and a person who has no regard for the laws or statutes doesn't deserve the right to have a say in them.\n\nEdit: Jaywalking doesn't make you a felon.
370896
No\nAnd Convicted Felons Cannot Either
653853
Uhmmmm why would you want to date a convicted felon?\nI mean, maybe he didn't do it.... but why is he in jail?
601309
It depends on the State.  It is a permanent disqualification in many states, but here in Texas, a felon regains the right to register to vote when the case is fully discharged, i.e. no more time, probation or parole.
1029545
The liberals were trying to get felons to be able to vote.  I don't understand why liberals think their voting base are felons.  I guess most of the uneducated people will believe the liberal lies.\n\nOn the other hand, I think most of the liberals on yahoo are too young to vote.  Their best argument seems to be things like, "Bush is a poo poo head"
1060997
Convicted felons can be deprived of certain rights that otherwise are guaranteed by the constitution. This is an ancient and accepted legal tradition known as "civil death."  \n\nThis deprivation of rights is limited however to those things which are construed as being privileges of citizenship rather than fundamental human rights. Gun ownership, voting, the practice of certain professions, and holding civic office are the most prominent of such privileges.
937738
It is scary that people vote based on a 30 second TV ad and do not know all the facts.\nI am also mad at the fact that illegals, dead people, and felons, vote.  Of all those groups, the stupid seem less harmful - but not by much.
78815
They can vote, although they need to register, and demonstrate they have been in the jurisdiction for the right amount of time.  There are many practical difficulties, but in theory they are allowed to.\n\n(They would not have been able to when the country was founded -- only white male property owners were allowed to when the US was founded.  Something to think about when asking what would the founding fathers have done about a given issue.)
91062
When will reformed felons of any kind get a break? You serve your time, your punishment is supposed to be over. But it's not. You get out and they tell you to be a good citizen. But you're not a citizen, they force you to be part of a class that's lower then a citizen.\n\n A citizen can vote, a citizen doesn't have to tell every potential employer about some bad thing (that will automatically disqualify you for the job) they may have done years before. A citizen has rights. If police harass a citizen, people care. Your punishment was supposed to have been completed, but it's just begun.\n\nThey expect you to have all the responsibilities of a citizen with none of the benefits. Drug crimes suck even worse, like you said, you can't even get some help to get an education and become a decent citizen. I guess somehow a reformed felon getting an education is a threat. Lord knows, you don't want to give them any HOPE! \n\nThen they wonder why so many people get out of prison and commit crimes again.
563890
I agree with Jason. Once their sentence is over (counting probation), and maybe a fixed time after (1-2 years? just what some states do), ex-felons should be allowed to get their right to vote back.\n\nThe idea is to rehabilitate criminals by giving them a reason to re-integrate into society. Now, repeat offenders, I have less sympathy for. But someone should not lose their rights for life because of a single bad act.
445889
They have a lot of problems to work out before a vote. I talked with someone today in Washington that said it might not be until after the election. Both sides want to deal with it at the same time they don't. More pressure put on them by the public faster the process.
926305
Since vote rigging would be next to impossible in the state were I live then no one here who be able to "win" this money.\n\nWe have checks and balances to keep it from happening.
593652
It makes sense to vote in the states that have not yet been corrupted. Plus if we the dems did not vote it would give the appearance that there really is a 'republican majority'. Planning a mass protest involving not voting would never work either. It'd be too hard to organize. We vote for the same reason there is religion. Faith. \n\nOf course, faith really doesn't work all that well sometimes. Maybe the lying cheaters will get caught one day! Or maybe progressives need to do more on ensuring 'fair elections'. If the republicans have nothing to hide why are they so adamantly opposed to paper ballots? Hmmm, i wonder.
934289
I think yes some will try,but I agree with the other poster,most did not register or were unable to register.\nMost are not knowingly committing a crime if the try to vote.Because they are being misled by either a party or a friend.The Democratic party is misleading a lot of the illegals by making promises they will not,.can not keep.\nThere will be voter fraud I'm sure and out cry that illegals did vote..Perhaps in some way it may help to change our system of voting, to ensure its not been influenced by the \npeople who are supposed to be protecting our honest/legal vote.The voting machines are fraught with problems and are ripe with the opportunity to commit crimes against the voting public.No one that is an illegal alien in this country should have a legal drivers license .That's just wrong..If they are illegal then arrest them and deport them ,do not reward them by giving them a legal document that enables them to get more legal documents.\nI am disgusted with the way some states officials think/act about this problem.(the republican party is also filled with lies and promises they will not keep to the Hispanic voter)
812824
If people don't vote, they need to accept everyone else's decisions becuase that is why you have the right to vote.  You each have to exercise that right or you don't have anyone to blame but yourself.
235763
A convicted felon has lost his/her voting rights unless the felon has successfully petitioned to have his/her civil rights restored.
489360
No this is not discrimination.  I have a friend who manages an apartment complex and yes people can get turned down for an apartment if they have a felony conviction on there record.  I was actually in her office when a prospective tenant was turned down over the phone because of a prior murder charge.  I asked her the same question you are asking and the reason they can do this is to protect the other tenants.  Also since it is hard for former convicted felons to find jobs it can be difficult to for them to pay their rent.  Keep in mind these apartment complexes provide the service of renting you a place to live for a price.  Just like any other business they have the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason.