Because voting is a civil right and you forfeit certain rights, temporarily anyway, when convicted of a serious crime.
Comment |. Contact |. Print |. A A. Ex-felons lose their voting rights for a variety of reasons. Voter disenfranchisement for felons depends on particular state laws. Some ex-felons don't know if they have the right to vote because of changes to laws over the years. Here are five reasons ex-felons can't vote: 1. Voter disenfranchisement for felons has been around since the ancient Greek and Roman times 1 In 38 states and the District of Columbia, most ex-felons automatically gain the right to vote upon the completion of their sentence. 2  In some states, ex-felons must wait for a certain period of time after the completion of their sentence before rights can be restored. Most--though not all--recent state legislation seeks to expand felon voting rights and ease the process of restoration. Between 1996 and 2008, 28 states passed new laws on felon voting rights. 1  Seven repealed lifetime disenfranchisement laws, at least for some ex-offenders. Felony disenfranchisement is excluding people otherwise eligible to vote from voting (known as disfranchisement) due to conviction of a criminal offence, usually restricted to the more serious class of crimes, felonies.  A troubling story that has not gotten much attention this election season  or any recent one, for that matter  is why a certain group of roughly 5.3 million Americans won't be allowed to vote. It isn't because they're underage or non-citizens or mentally incompetent. It isn't because they're unregistered or physically unable to get to the polls. It isn't even because they're limping around with a chronic case of political apathy. The reason they can't vote is that they're felons. Of course it would. In fact, a Sentencing Project study that tracked released felons from 1997 through 2000 found that those who voted were less than half as likely to be rearrested as those who did not  or could not  vote. And don't fall for the line that the nation's original plan called for denying felons the vote. So here's the thing: Felons who are out of prison have largely served the punishment prescribed by the judicial system. Shouldn't that be enough? Penalizing them further by taking away their right to vote is not just unfair to them, it's bad for us. We'll be lucky if 40% of eligible voters cast a ballot on Nov. 7. Of course it would. In fact, a Sentencing Project study that tracked released felons from 1997 through 2000 found that those who voted were less than half as likely to be rearrested as those who did not  or could not  vote. And don't fall for the line that the nation's original plan called for denying felons the vote. Clearly, this is a big deal. The simple answer to your question is that felons can't vote is because voting is a civil right and you forfeit certain rights, temporarily anyway, when convicted of a serious crime. But the full story, as always, is more complex. Pull up a chair and light a cigar.  In 1800, no state prohibited felons from voting. On the eve of the Civil War, 80% of the states did, largely to block African Americans, who though rarely allowed to vote were disproportionately represented among felons. Of course it would. In fact, a Sentencing Project study that tracked released felons from 1997 through 2000 found that those who voted were less than half as likely to be rearrested as those who did not  or could not  vote. And don't fall for the line that the nation's original plan called for denying felons the vote. I think convicted felons should still have the right to vote because they are still affected by the choices of politicians. Felons are still affected by laws made by politicians. Laws could be made about the court system or anything else that might have an impact on their lives. Since they are still a part of our democratic society, it would be wrong to take away the right to choose the people affecting them. Print |. A A. Opponents of giving voting rights to ex-felons may debate on when, if ever, they should be allowed to vote. Some people say there should be a certain time frame involved before rights are restored. Others believe felons who have committed serious crimes should never be allowed to vote.
http://www.newsmax.com/FastFeatures/felons-voting-rights/2015/04/15/id/638737/ http://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/felon-voting-rights.aspx https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felony_disenfranchisement http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1553510,00.html http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1553510,00.html http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1789/why-cant-felons-vote http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1553510,00.html http://www.debate.org/opinions/should-convicted-felons-retain-the-right-to-vote http://www.newsmax.com/FastFeatures/felons-voting-rights/2015/04/15/id/638743/
why can't felons vote