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Debate: Ex-felon right to vote
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Revision as of 23:53, 13 May 2008 (edit) Jane37 (Talk | contribs) (→Yes) ← Previous diff |
Revision as of 05:53, 14 May 2008 (edit) Brooks Lindsay (Talk | contribs) (→Yes) Next diff → |
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- | ''Click on the pencil icon and research and write arguments here'' | ||
- | Ex-felons tend to be poor and/or African American. A statistical study conducted in 2001 by Uggen and Manza found that 7 percent of African Americans in the United States were subjected to felony disenfranchisement laws, compared to 1 percent of all other racial groups. Therefore, laws preventing them from voting are intrinsically unfair. | + | *'''Depriving ex-felons of the right to vote alienates certain minorities''' Ex-felons are disproportionately African American. A statistical study conducted in 2001 by Uggen and Manza found that 7 percent of African Americans in the United States were subjected to felony disenfranchisement laws, compared to 1 percent of all other racial groups. Therefore, laws preventing them from voting are intrinsically unfair. |
These laws also give an unfair advantage to the Republican party, because the poor and African Americans tend to vote Democratic. It is no surprise that most of the felon disenfranchisement laws were sponsored by Republicans. In fact, in 2003, Alabama Republican Party Chairman Marty Connors told the Washington Post: "As frank as I can be, we're opposed to [restoring voting rights] because felons don't tend to vote Republican." | These laws also give an unfair advantage to the Republican party, because the poor and African Americans tend to vote Democratic. It is no surprise that most of the felon disenfranchisement laws were sponsored by Republicans. In fact, in 2003, Alabama Republican Party Chairman Marty Connors told the Washington Post: "As frank as I can be, we're opposed to [restoring voting rights] because felons don't tend to vote Republican." |
Revision as of 05:53, 14 May 2008
Should ex-felons have the right to vote? |
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Yes
These laws also give an unfair advantage to the Republican party, because the poor and African Americans tend to vote Democratic. It is no surprise that most of the felon disenfranchisement laws were sponsored by Republicans. In fact, in 2003, Alabama Republican Party Chairman Marty Connors told the Washington Post: "As frank as I can be, we're opposed to [restoring voting rights] because felons don't tend to vote Republican." The study by Uggen and Manza found that, if felons had been allowed to vote in Florida in 2000, Al Gore would have won the vote in this state. Once they have completed their sentence and are no longer in prison, or on probation or parole, ex-felons have paid their debt to society, as determined by a judge. Disenfranchisement amounts to an extrajudicial punishment. Disenfranchisement does not deter ex-felons from committing another crime. It merely indicates that "they can never be full citizens again." "Nearer to Overcoming". The Economist. May 10-16, 2008, p. 35. Other democratic countries do not disenfranchise ex-felons.
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NoClick on the pencil icon and research and write arguments here By committing a very serious crime, ex-felons have demonstrated their disrespect for the law. Therefore, they should have no input in determining who writes these laws.
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YesClick on the pencil icon and research and write arguments here
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NoClick on the pencil icon and research and write arguments here
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Pro/con bibliography | |
YesClick on the pencil icon and research and write arguments here
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9785-2004Aug17.html>.
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NoClick on the pencil icon and research and write arguments here
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