Voting is considered one of the most important civic duties that a citizen may participate in. Initially, only wealthy white land owners could vote in this country, but as time passed more groups were granted the right to vote. Now, there is increasing debate as to whether convicted felons should be allowed the right to vote both during and after their sentencing. Many states have laws that prohibit this, but they have proved only to be detrimental to American democracy. Therefore, it is time for these states to repeal their disenfranchisement laws in the name of human rights and liberty. Voting is a right that every U.S. citizen enjoys when they finally turn 18. A fundamental process of our government, “voting is the cornerstone of a democracy”
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In fact, the practice has “been around since ancient Greece and Rome” (“Felon Voting Rights”). However, over time the penalties for the convicted have been reduced. In the case of the United States, it actually stems from post-Civil War racial discrimination (“Voting for People with Felony Convictions”). In an effort to prevent African-Americans from voting, many states started to deny prisoners the right to vote. Today, there are only “two states [that] allow felons to vote from prison” while there are some that “permanently ban felons from voting even after being released from prison, parole, and probation, and having paid all their fines” (“State Felon Voting Laws”). It can vary widely from each state as to how much felon voting is restricted. A recent statistic estimates that “more than five million American citizens are now denied the right to vote,” which happens to include “13% of the African-American population, because of felony convictions” (“Voting for People with Felony Convictions”). With an already massive incarceration rate, the amount of people who are getting denied (or at least challenged) the right to vote is higher than ever. However, there are calls to restore voting rights to felons, and in some states action is being …show more content…
Recently, there has been a “significant national momentum towards restoring voting rights to people with criminal convictions” (“Restoring the Right to Vote by State”). This momentum has hit some state legislatures around the country. In the 12 years between 1996 and 2008, “28 states passed new laws on felon voting rights,” which included “seven [that] repealed lifetime disenfranchisement laws” (“Felon Voting Rights”). The latter is a significant step for felon voting rights, but there are still some states that continue life disenfranchisement. Kentucky for example, is known to ban felons from voting for life, which includes “an estimated 7.4 percent of voting-age Kentuckians” (Kenning). However, there is a possibility for a felon to regain their voting rights in Kentucky: “felons with completed sentences, probation and parole can petition the governor for the right to vote, but it 's a process reform advocates say is not uniform” (Kenning). While it is possible, it is not easy for most felons. Positive change has been made in the restoration of felon voting rights, but is something that will progress slowly and require significant lobbying effort in state
In fact, the practice has “been around since ancient Greece and Rome” (“Felon Voting Rights”). However, over time the penalties for the convicted have been reduced. In the case of the United States, it actually stems from post-Civil War racial discrimination (“Voting for People with Felony Convictions”). In an effort to prevent African-Americans from voting, many states started to deny prisoners the right to vote. Today, there are only “two states [that] allow felons to vote from prison” while there are some that “permanently ban felons from voting even after being released from prison, parole, and probation, and having paid all their fines” (“State Felon Voting Laws”). It can vary widely from each state as to how much felon voting is restricted. A recent statistic estimates that “more than five million American citizens are now denied the right to vote,” which happens to include “13% of the African-American population, because of felony convictions” (“Voting for People with Felony Convictions”). With an already massive incarceration rate, the amount of people who are getting denied (or at least challenged) the right to vote is higher than ever. However, there are calls to restore voting rights to felons, and in some states action is being …show more content…
Recently, there has been a “significant national momentum towards restoring voting rights to people with criminal convictions” (“Restoring the Right to Vote by State”). This momentum has hit some state legislatures around the country. In the 12 years between 1996 and 2008, “28 states passed new laws on felon voting rights,” which included “seven [that] repealed lifetime disenfranchisement laws” (“Felon Voting Rights”). The latter is a significant step for felon voting rights, but there are still some states that continue life disenfranchisement. Kentucky for example, is known to ban felons from voting for life, which includes “an estimated 7.4 percent of voting-age Kentuckians” (Kenning). However, there is a possibility for a felon to regain their voting rights in Kentucky: “felons with completed sentences, probation and parole can petition the governor for the right to vote, but it 's a process reform advocates say is not uniform” (Kenning). While it is possible, it is not easy for most felons. Positive change has been made in the restoration of felon voting rights, but is something that will progress slowly and require significant lobbying effort in state