As of today, almost 6 million citizens are incarcerated and stripped of their given right to vote, these men and women have their voices, thoughts, and opinions silenced due to their past mistakes. “This is a fundamental question on democracy”, said the Sentencing Project’s executive director Marc Mauer. “These polices go back to the founding of this country.” (McLaughin 1). Although some might say that they have broken the law, therefore they should not be allowed to walk amongst decent people let alone be given the right to vote. The act of denying a felon or incarcerated citizen the right to vote is highly unconstitutional and has a profound effect on American democracy and is counterintuitive to the very foundation unto to which this country
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“Voting disenfranchisement laws for felons exist in 48 states and the District of Colombia.” (Shaw 1), and “as of 2010 more than 5.85 million adults who’ve been convicted of a felony aren’t welcome in polling places.” (McLaughlin 1). In Florida and Texas, the prison systems “disenfranchise more than 600,000 people.” (Current Impact of Disenfranchisement Laws 1). Following this trend Alabama, California and Virginia “each have close to a quarter million people.” (Current Impact of Disenfranchisement Laws 1). Stripped of their voting right, and the list goes on. “ In Florida, Iowa and Virginia, felons and ex-felons permanently lose vote.” (Felon Voting Rights 1). In Texas alone with a population of 28,797,290 million people, around 5% of them cannot vote due to the laws in place for felons concerning voting privileges; 5% may not seem like a large number, but that is over 610,000 citizens who are not welcome to polling areas, cannot even cast a ballot. Directly correlating to this is the effect it is taking on our nations elections, without their vote the elections have unfairly swayed a certain direction. “Felon disenfranchisement has tremendous effects on the political landscape—leading researchers report that felon disenfranchisement ‘may have …show more content…
A living breathing person with their own thoughts, opinions and ideas. America was founded on the very desire to escape tyranny and forge a path that is led by the people and for the people. If we take away 6 million Americans rights to vote then how can we say we are a democratic country at all, how can we just sit still and watch as millions of men and women are silenced and misrepresented in our society. Without them we leave out a very large demographic of people, men and women just like us alienated from their own country. “Felon disenfranchisement has tremendous effects on the political landscape—leading researchers report that felon disenfranchisement ‘may have altered the outcome of as many as seven recent U.S senate elections and one presidential election.” ( Chin JD 1). The disenfranchisement of citizens is, to its very core unlawful and unconstitutional, and although progress is being made to better the situation for them, there is still a long way to go until we reach the equality that is so crucial to what makes this country great. This modern-day Jim’s Crow law has stripped away at the very essence of America, a land in which not only the rich or the privileged are able to impact their society and make a difference but all people give the same
“Voting disenfranchisement laws for felons exist in 48 states and the District of Colombia.” (Shaw 1), and “as of 2010 more than 5.85 million adults who’ve been convicted of a felony aren’t welcome in polling places.” (McLaughlin 1). In Florida and Texas, the prison systems “disenfranchise more than 600,000 people.” (Current Impact of Disenfranchisement Laws 1). Following this trend Alabama, California and Virginia “each have close to a quarter million people.” (Current Impact of Disenfranchisement Laws 1). Stripped of their voting right, and the list goes on. “ In Florida, Iowa and Virginia, felons and ex-felons permanently lose vote.” (Felon Voting Rights 1). In Texas alone with a population of 28,797,290 million people, around 5% of them cannot vote due to the laws in place for felons concerning voting privileges; 5% may not seem like a large number, but that is over 610,000 citizens who are not welcome to polling areas, cannot even cast a ballot. Directly correlating to this is the effect it is taking on our nations elections, without their vote the elections have unfairly swayed a certain direction. “Felon disenfranchisement has tremendous effects on the political landscape—leading researchers report that felon disenfranchisement ‘may have …show more content…
A living breathing person with their own thoughts, opinions and ideas. America was founded on the very desire to escape tyranny and forge a path that is led by the people and for the people. If we take away 6 million Americans rights to vote then how can we say we are a democratic country at all, how can we just sit still and watch as millions of men and women are silenced and misrepresented in our society. Without them we leave out a very large demographic of people, men and women just like us alienated from their own country. “Felon disenfranchisement has tremendous effects on the political landscape—leading researchers report that felon disenfranchisement ‘may have altered the outcome of as many as seven recent U.S senate elections and one presidential election.” ( Chin JD 1). The disenfranchisement of citizens is, to its very core unlawful and unconstitutional, and although progress is being made to better the situation for them, there is still a long way to go until we reach the equality that is so crucial to what makes this country great. This modern-day Jim’s Crow law has stripped away at the very essence of America, a land in which not only the rich or the privileged are able to impact their society and make a difference but all people give the same