Felons: Democracy and Equal Protection Clause

Coleman Wahlborg Richard English IV, 1A 9 September 2011 Felons and recompense to balloting This year 5. 3 million passel pull up stakes be un equal to(p) to vote non because they argon mentally unable, non because they atomic number 18 under climb on, and because they atomic number 18 felons and ex-felons (Holding, 2006). Ex-felons be pack who committed a felony and apply served their punishment, dictated by the judiciary system, and atomic number 18 lively in the community. When previous convicts atomic number 18 released from prison they ar considered citizens again. Being a citizen, one is promised certain matures and responsibilities.As an ex felon one is a handsome citizen who fucking exercises the a safes and responsibilities granted by the Constitution of the join States of America. Since former felons postulate earned their rights back shouldnt this include vote? Whether ex-felons should be able to vote or non is a very everyday unblock among peo ple. The two sides in the issue go off be fairly biased. Some people skill know felons that they think should be able to vote and others are on the other side of the argument. However, seek says that in that location are several reasons why ex-felons should and shouldnt be able to vote.The Fourteenth Amendment pass ons, no state shall make or enforce any legal philosophy which shall abridge the privileges or the immunities of citizens in the joined States. This practice of law sets forth that citizens open privileges and no one has the right to deprive citizens of these privileges. Current felons are not members of society, further previous felons civic rights are restored when they complete their sentence. Denying ex-felons the right to vote abolishes their rights (Krajick, 2004). Only two states allow period felons to vote, and ten states permanently prohibit former felons from voter turnout (Zotti, 2000).This means that people who used curt popular opinion in the pa st, paid their debt to society, and were released from jail, are still cosmos punished and shunned from being normal everyday citizens. Prohibiting ex-felon voting is not only a punishment to them, however also to society (Should felons be allowed to vote, 2008). The people of United States give be fortunate if 40% of eligible voters cast a ballot for the next presidential election (Holding, 2006). Instead of prohibiting felon voting, we should require it (Holding, 2006).We should be finding shipway to get people to the polls, not keeping them away. Ex-felons who are going to return to their ways are not going to be arouse in having a voice in the governance. Individuals who are not already deterred from crime by the brat of confinement are not likely to be swayed by the prospect of losing their right to vote (Mauer, 2004). Individuals who feed changed are the ones that fatality to vote, and the ones who build not changed will most likely wind up in the criminal justice sy stem again select is not a privilege it is the basic right that defines a citizen.Those denied it are, in effect, stateless people without a country (Krajick, 2004). Voting is a right that defines a citizen in the since of when a person votes they are considered answerable and knowledgeable for not just complaining more or less the government but casting a vote to try to change things. When one does not vote, and is fragmented from the government in which they live, and they are stateless because they have no control over decisions that are made.The efforts to keep mum ex-felons from voting makes those individuals feel more detached from society, which increases the find that they will march on to break the law (Williams, 2010). foregone felons feel they cannot get involved in their government because they are turned away, which essentially leads so umteen ex-felons to resort to their old ways. In 2000, the Alexander v. Mineta unequivocal court case that dealt with the E qual Protection clause came to the conclusion The Equal Protection Clause does not protect the right of all citizens to vote, but quite an the right of all qualified citizens to vote. However, the Eighth Amendment prohibits excessive sanctions, and demands that punishment for crimes should be graduated and proportioned to the offense (Karlan, 2004). Therefore, felons who are released from jail have been punished for their crime more punishment on their part is inhumane of society. The states that continue to exclude all felons permanently are outliers, at bottom the United States and the world (Karlan, 2004). People who argue that ex felons should not have the right to vote commit that they have presented poor apprehension and it is absurd to let them help in he choosing of our representatives (Carlson, 2006). This is agreeable to a certain extent, but when one takes a deeper look, the pungent answer is former convicts are stereotyped by most people. While these previous felon s have presented poor judgment in the past, who is to say they will neer change (Chapman, 2006)? The government lets ex-convicts marry, have children, drive and have the freedom of religion. In some presents, the assumption is that ex-felons cannot be trusted to help choose our leader.If we thought criminals could neer be reformed, we would never let them out in the first place (Chapman, 2006). There are many reasons why felons should be able to take place in the voting system however at that place are reasons why they shouldnt be able to. Felons become felons by presenting an act of poor judgment in most cases. Felons cannot vote for analogous reasons that children cant vote. We dont let children vote, for instance, or noncitizens, or the mentally incompetent. Why? Because we dont trust them and their judgment.We have different reasons for not trusting them, but it seems to me that that is their common denominator (Clegg, 2004). People who have committed crimes in their sm ell have already shown us that they are not trustworthy people (Clegg, 2004). And, as to equity, if youre not willing to follow the rules yourself, you shouldnt be able to make the rules for everyone else (Clegg, 2004). Because voting determines in the abundant run who will make the rules for our country, there is no reason why the country should allow people who cant follow the rules, vote on the rules. Now, I will freely concede that there are felons who ought to have their right to vote restored, but that should be done on a single basis, weighing (a) how serious the crime was, (b) how recently it was committed, (c) whether there has been a series/pattern of crimes, and (d) whether the individual has differently shown that he or she has turned his or her life around (Clegg, 2004). Clegg states that not all felons are in the same category. It is understandable that murderers should not be allowed to vote. On the other hand, some people very have gone through a enormous proces s to change their life around for the better. The right to vote is not granted to those under the age of eighteen. That age limitation demonstrates that voting rights may be restricted when there is reason to doubt the possible voters good judgment (Latham, 2006). Latham shares similar ideas to Clegg on how the age limitation on voting and whether felons should be able to vote are connected due to prior judgment or lack there of. The interests of convicted felons might also differ from the primary interest of the American citizen body who want to be protected from criminals (Latham, 2006).A primary issue for the convicted felons as a whole is that 2/3 of felons released commit crimes within the next three old age not counting the ones that were not caught. Holding, Reynolds. Why Cant Felons vote? TIME. Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech Reviews TIME. com. 1 Nov. 2006. Web. 19 Oct. 2011. Krajick, Kevin. Why Cant Ex-Felons Vote? (washingtonpost. c om). Wahlborg 2 The Washington moorage National, World & D. C. Area News and Headlines The Washington Post. 18 Aug. 2004. Web. 19 Oct. 2011. http//www. washingtonpost. com/wp-dyn/articles/A9785- 2004Aug17. html