Should Felons Be Allowed To Vote?
Voting is a duty that must be fulfilled by every citizen at some point in their lives. Voting gives the citizens of the U.S. a chance to express themselves through an anonymous voice. There are a few restrictions on voting, which include age, citizenship, and in some states weather you’re a convicted felon. I believe that it is unfair that some states make it so felons can’t vote. I really believe felons should be allowed to vote simply because everyone makes mistakes, and some felons have to rejoin society eventually. Felons are looked at by some as the bad people of society. Some people even believe that once they have messed up they don’t deserve a second chance. Although some felons commit crimes that are so awful that they don’t
deserve a second chance, there are some that will have an opportunity at a second chance one day. When people go to jail they become known as a number rather than a person with a name which is a little disrespectful. Even though they have done something to harm society they should still have rights as a human being. Everyone makes mistakes, some worse than others, but that’s no reason to revoke someone’s rights. Most people will learn from past mistakes. One in every nine prisoners serves a life sentence without parole. So what happens to the other 8 prisoners who will eventually be free? If they have their voting rights revoked then they have to live in a society where they have no say so. I’m not saying felons should be able to vote while in prison, but when they get out they have almost every right as every other citizen just with a few restrictions. Voting is a very important right that should be restored once a felon has served their sentence. After all every vote does count! Roger Clegg states that “Individuals who have shown they are unwilling to follow the law cannot claim the right to make laws for the rest of us” . He also states that “we don't let everyone vote, not children, for instance, or noncitizens, or the mentally incompetent”. Although this is true, I don’t believe that felons should be put into this category. Felons are not children and most of them are not mentally incompetent, which means they have a sound mind. They are just a person who made a mistake. Once they spend some time in prison they will learn from their mistakes and fix their ways. However, it’s not true for every felon, but for the ones that do change and get their life back on the right track should be able to keep their voting rights once they have completed their sentence. The New York Times states that “the only reason not to let them vote is to stigmatize them or to continue punishing them” . Voting is an issue that should be taking very seriously. I don’t think it’s fair to just snatch peoples voting rights away permanently. Felons usually serve many years in prison as a consequence for their actions. Once they have completed their sentence their voting rights should be restored. They should not continue to be punished for an action in the past. At the end of the day felons are people too, just people who have made a few bad decisions.
deserve a second chance, there are some that will have an opportunity at a second chance one day. When people go to jail they become known as a number rather than a person with a name which is a little disrespectful. Even though they have done something to harm society they should still have rights as a human being. Everyone makes mistakes, some worse than others, but that’s no reason to revoke someone’s rights. Most people will learn from past mistakes. One in every nine prisoners serves a life sentence without parole. So what happens to the other 8 prisoners who will eventually be free? If they have their voting rights revoked then they have to live in a society where they have no say so. I’m not saying felons should be able to vote while in prison, but when they get out they have almost every right as every other citizen just with a few restrictions. Voting is a very important right that should be restored once a felon has served their sentence. After all every vote does count! Roger Clegg states that “Individuals who have shown they are unwilling to follow the law cannot claim the right to make laws for the rest of us” . He also states that “we don't let everyone vote, not children, for instance, or noncitizens, or the mentally incompetent”. Although this is true, I don’t believe that felons should be put into this category. Felons are not children and most of them are not mentally incompetent, which means they have a sound mind. They are just a person who made a mistake. Once they spend some time in prison they will learn from their mistakes and fix their ways. However, it’s not true for every felon, but for the ones that do change and get their life back on the right track should be able to keep their voting rights once they have completed their sentence. The New York Times states that “the only reason not to let them vote is to stigmatize them or to continue punishing them” . Voting is an issue that should be taking very seriously. I don’t think it’s fair to just snatch peoples voting rights away permanently. Felons usually serve many years in prison as a consequence for their actions. Once they have completed their sentence their voting rights should be restored. They should not continue to be punished for an action in the past. At the end of the day felons are people too, just people who have made a few bad decisions.