http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2014/02/felony-convictions-voting-rights-black-american-african-disenfranchisement
On Tuesday morning, Attorney General Eric Holder made a plea to states to overturn laws barring people convicted of felonies from voting. "It is unwise, it is unjust, and it is not in keeping with our democratic values.These laws deserve to be not only reconsidered, but repealed," he said at a criminal justice symposium in Washington, DC. "And the current scope of these policies is not too significant to ignore—it is also too unjust to tolerate."
As the New York Times pointed out, Holder's comments were largely symbolic, since he doesn't have the authority to personally enact changes. Regardless, Holder called attention to a huge, largely overlooked demographic. So what's the lay of the land when it comes to felony disenfranchisement laws? Here are some facts to help clarify the issue.
well we know that will not fly in all 50 states those with republican governors will not unleash those democratic voter on themselves and those that aren't Dems would be grateful that they are treated like citizens and know who wanted them to remain "EX-CONS".
So how common are laws restricting felon voting? As we've reported before, nearly every state restricts the voting rights of people convicted of felonies. Only two states, Maine and Vermont, have no restrictions on voting; in these, felons can vote while still in prison.On the other hand, 11 states restrict voting even after a person has completed their prison sentence and finished probation or parole. Twenty states require completion of parole and probation before voting is allowed, and 14 states allow felons to vote after they leave prison.Among states that bar voting even after a person has completed their sentence, the laws still differ greatly. In Alabama, only certain felony offenses result in disenfranchisement.In Florida, Nebraska, and Virginia, felons are able to vote after waiting periods between two and five years. And in Nevada, almost all felony offenders are completely barred from the polls (first-time, non-violent felony convictions are exempt).Eight states also completely bar people with misdemeanor convictions from voting while incarcerated.
this is prejudice against potential voters that i think those who oppose think would be prejudiced toward them so that said isn't that tantamount to voter blocking and purging? denying a vote because you think it won't be for you is in my opinion not in keeping with a person having paid there debt to society but is it society that rejects them or republicans telling them they do?
