Is there a racial component to taking away voting rights from felons? #StayWoke

[Im Still Ballin]

As we know, a large percentage of the incarcerated are African-American...

This is due to a number of reasons -- this thread is not for that.


The concept of taking away the power to vote from those with criminal records is called felony disenfranchisement.

- [1971] 1.2 million felons were denied the right to vote [1]
- [2012] 5.85 million felons were denied the right to vote [1]
- Florida is the highest state of felony disenfranchisement [1]

1. https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...nfranchisement


Several southern states actually used this (felony disenfranchisment) as a way to limit the black vote.

They even went so far as to create "black laws" which targeted African-Americans harshly for petty crimes.

Here are some glaring stats...

- Compared to the rest of the voting age population, African Americans are 4x more likely to lose their voting rights
- 7.4% of African-Americans are banned to vote vs. 1.8% everyone else

[hateraid]

Everyone should vote. Being in jail doesn't revoke your rights

Illegal immigrants however...

[Patrick Chewing]

If you are an ex-con, then you should have your voting rights restored. But if you are currently incarcerated, you should not be allowed to vote.

[sd3035]

If you are an ex-con, then you should have your voting rights restored. But if you are currently incarcerated, you should not be allowed to vote.

That seems like the fairest way to go about it

[hateraid]

That seems like the fairest way to go about it

They are still a citizen. What happens in jail can still be politically affected

[Patrick Chewing]

They are still a citizen. What happens in jail can still be politically affected

I only have a problem with this because I was on the inside once. Even though I only spent the required 8 hours behind bars before being bailed out, the feeling of being locked in a box is no experience anyone wants to have. So I think people that are currently incarcerated would always vote for the candidate who is soft on crime and punishment. So to me, the vote would be a disingenuous one.

[Pushxx]

If you commit a felony you shouldn't have a right to vote. Period. If you want to vote you shouldn't commit such crimes.

Now if you want to have a discussion about how there are many felonies that are victimless crimes, that's a different story.

But the law is the law. Don't break serious laws if you want to vote.

[RRR3]

I only have a problem with this because I was on the inside once. Even though I only spent the required 8 hours behind bars before being bailed out, the feeling of being locked in a box is no experience anyone wants to have. So I think people that are currently incarcerated would always vote for the candidate who is soft on crime and punishment. So to me, the vote would be a disingenuous one.

Ol’ Jailbird Patty

[Patrick Chewing]

Ol’ Jailbird Patty

Damn straight. Scaring the shit out of you peckerwood White boys

[Phong]

Those who value their right to vote can refrain from committing crimes. It's not that hard not to be a criminal.

[iamgine]

What kind of voting rights are we talking about? Local? National?

What's the argument for taking away felon's voting rights even after they're released?