Essay On Felons To Vote

The right for convicted felons to vote has been a controversial topic due to the fact thhat the felons are restrained from voting. As citizens of the United States, felons are looked down upon in our country’s society. However, after the time they serve in prison, it is believed that they have changed for the better. While the eligibility for felons to vote in the United States has grown into a critical topic of discussion, the debate between convicted felons voting and not voting will continue to be evaluated. The privilege for convicted felons to vote has been an issue involving the felons’ morals and their constitutional rights.
Although not specified, the Constitution grants US citizens the “Right to vote.” As an american citizen, our 15th amendment gives registered voters the right to vote. The amendment “prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on that citizen's race, color, or previous condition of servitude." The right for a convicted felon to vote in nowhere mentioned in the Constitution. The eighth amendment states that the federal …show more content…
One argument that can compete against the constitution is the judgement of the felons. Although some people believe that they can change for the better in prison, sometimes that is not always the case. In fact about 77% of felons have had at least one arrest before being convicted as a felon (Cohen 2). Another 69% have had multiple arrests (Cohen 3). The numbers are clear that most of these felons have not learned their lessons and have changed their behavior. It may seem dangerous enough to have them back in society, and by giving them a chance to establish laws may be even more dangerous. Voting is also a privilege, and since the felon lost his or her privilege, they should not be allowed to vote. By allowing convicted felons to vote, the government may see some bias toward a