Current Events > The moral of the story: let felons vote

(+) Yeah! (+)

http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2017/05/gov_ivey_signs_bill_restoring.html

Gov. Kay Ivey has signed a bill restoring 'thousands' of Alabama felon's right to vote.

Called the Definition of Moral Turpitude Act, the legislation was approved by the state legislature last week.

The bill, which Ivey signed into law on Wednesday afternoon according to governor's office spokeswoman Eileen Jones, clarifies the definition of the term "moral turpitude" as it is used in the state constitution, which states that "no person convicted of a felony of moral turpitude" may vote.

Before the bill was signed, only five felonies were considered not to be crimes of moral turpitude. But now the new law establishes a list of less than 50 crimes of moral turpitude, which any person convicted of committing will lose the right to vote.

Convictions of any other crimes will no longer lead to the loss of that essential right of citizenship, according to supporters of the law, like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

"We commend Governor Ivey and the Alabama State Legislature for recognizing that Alabama law left the voting rights of too many citizens - especially Black citizens - hanging in the balance because of a legal ambiguity," the fund said in a statement Thursday. "With the stroke of a pen, Governor Ivey has taken a significant step towards making Alabama's democracy more vital."

http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2017/11/advocates_make_last-minute_pus.html

Thousands of felons across Alabama have registered to vote in recent weeks, according to Pastor Kenneth Glasgow, who is heading up a statewide effort to get felons to the voting booth.

Glasgow's goal is to get as many felons as possible signed up to vote before the end of the day Monday, the deadline to be able to cast a ballot in Alabama's Dec. 12 U.S. Senate special election.

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Why should criminals vote? They made their choice to disrepect the law.
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Fantastic
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Ubermensch posted...

Why should criminals vote? They made their choice to disrepect the law.

you just committed libel. this is punishable by civil suit in most jurisdictions. if you have prior arrests, you could potentially be put in jail for your actions.

I still don't get the argument for why ex-cons shouldn't be allowed to vote. They did their time and are supposed to be rehabilitated back into society, why withhold citizenry rights?

And hell, I think that currently serving convicts should be allowed to vote still as well. They're still citizens.
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Naysaspace posted...

Ubermensch posted...

Why should criminals vote? They made their choice to disrepect the law.

you just committed libel. this is punishable by civil suit in most jurisdictions. if you have prior arrests, you could potentially be put in jail for your actions.

Is this oblivion?
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If they served their time then they paid for it why do we continue to punish them
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Someone that committed a felony was running for Senate
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Ubermensch posted...

Why should criminals vote? They made their choice to disrepect the law.

i thought you were going to bed hoth

K181 posted...

I still don't get the argument for why ex-cons shouldn't be allowed to vote. They did their time and are supposed to be rehabilitated back into society, why withhold citizenry rights?

And hell, I think that currently serving convicts should be allowed to vote still as well. They're still citizens.

I'm okay with current prisoners losing that right. However, having felons prevented from voting after serving their sentence is counterproductive. We want them to reintegrate and have a stake in society.

OFA just sent me an email about this actually this morning. signing a petition, donating money, etc. to get them back into voting
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Trump

tax evader
draft dodger
sexual predator
has filthy thoughts about his daughter
traitor
treasonous

he is president and felons shouldnt be allowed to vote come on man
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