P2- SHOULD FELONS VOTE? by Isabella Modaffari

imodaffari1 — 2025-04-10 15:17:28 UTC

How does the history of felon disenfranchisement impact today’s policies?

imodaffari1 — 2025-04-10 15:17:28 UTC

Should all felons be treated the same, or should the severity of their crime determine voting rights?

imodaffari1 — 2025-04-10 15:17:28 UTC

Does allowing felons to vote threaten public trust in the electoral system, or does it strengthen democracy?

imodaffari1 — 2025-04-10 15:17:28 UTC

Should felons have to apply to regain voting rights, or should those rights be automatically restored after serving their sentence?

imodaffari1 — 2025-04-10 15:17:28 UTC

Should voting rights be restored only after serving a sentence, or should felons be able to vote while in prison?

imodaffari1 — 2025-04-10 15:17:28 UTC

Should all citizens, regardless of their criminal history, have a say in government decisions?

imodaffari1 — 2025-04-10 15:17:28 UTC

How does society’s perception of crime and punishment shape voting laws for felons?

imodaffari1 — 2025-04-10 15:17:28 UTC

Should voting rights be restored as part of reintegration into society, or is losing the right to vote a justified consequence of committing a crime?

imodaffari1 — 2025-04-10 15:17:28 UTC

Does prohibiting felons from voting disproportionately affect certain groups and reinforce systemic inequalities?

imodaffari1 — 2025-04-10 15:17:28 UTC

Should voting rights for felons be a state decision, or should there be a nationwide standard?

2025-04-10 15:46:18 UTC

Felons while incarcerated should not have the right to vote. Voting rights should be restored after they have been incarcerated and after they serve their time. Once someone has served their time, they can have their voting rights restored, I also think they should do some sort of community service to show that they are going back on the right path after they committed their felony. Showing that they are willing to be a upstanding citizen for their country, then they can be given the right to vote.

2025-04-10 15:54:23 UTC

Felons should not be able to vote while they are incarcerated. Some of these felons can be not improving and do not deserve their rights for going against the law. However, voting rights should be restored after they have served their full sentence or let out on parole. These people have have earned the rights back and should be able to vote.

25nmanoj — 2025-04-10 15:58:52 UTC

People's perception on the purpose of the carceral system and the approach it should take when dealing with felons shapes voting laws. Voting laws are based on whether people view the carceral system as for punishment or rehabilitation. In states that view incarceration as punitive, felon disenfranchisement is worse because their perspective is that felons shouldn't have voting rights as a punishment for their crime. In states with voting rights for felons, the largely held view is that voting is a right not a privilege, and voting is necessary for rehabilitation and reintegration of felons into society.

25jpearman — 2025-04-10 16:02:48 UTC

I think felons should be treated differently based on what crime they did. The severity of their crime should determine voting rights. I believe that if people commit robbery and get a felony they shouldn't be treated as harsh compared to someone who committed murder. I think everyone is going to make choices and some may be good and some may be bad. However, some people's bad choices are worse than others. Someone who committed robbery should get their voting rights back, but someone who killed someone should not.

25evanna — 2025-04-10 16:06:04 UTC

Yes, prohibiting felons from voting disproportionately affects certain groups and reinforces systemic inequalities. In particular, in the United States, people of color are overrepresented in the criminal justice system, leading to significant disenfranchisement within these communities. This voter suppression reinforces systemic inequalities by denying individuals a voice in the political scene, which can create more disadvantages for them. This not only harms democracy but also prevents meaningful change for those communities that need it most.

2025-04-10 16:06:57 UTC

Voting rights should be restored after the person has served their sentence and after completion of all the requirements of their punishment. Once someone has paid their debt to society, they should be allowed to fully participate in society. Felons while in prison shouldn't be able to vote because prison should be a suspension of their status. Also, many people have concerns believing that allowing people currently incarcerated for serious offenses to vote could erode public confidence in the intergrity of elections. Public trust is a big factor on why felons who haven't served their sentence shouldn't be able to vote so citizens can feel confident in elections and continue to care about voting if they feel as it is fair. When felons complete their punishment they are showing that they are willing to be a productive citizen and in a way win back the right to vote.

2025-04-10 16:20:27 UTC

If carried out the right way allowing felons to vote can strengthen democracy instead of threatening public trust. Giving formerly incarcerated people a second chance in society by allowing them to vote improves the process of rehabilitation for these individuals. As long as former felons aren't repeating crimes and have paid their debt to society then allowing felons to vote gives people second chances and shows the restoration of rights. The 15th amendement supports this idea and says that the right to vote cannot be denied based on a persons background. This strengthens democracy as democracy should reflect the voices of all its citizens. Excluding millions of people weakens democracy and can also influence political powers.

2025-04-10 16:21:20 UTC

I don't think that allowing felons to vote threatens any system of democracy. I think that allowing more people to vote strengthens democracy because it allows for more voices to be heard regardless of the situation. Also allowing felons to vote shouldn't diminish the trust in the electoral system because adding another voter doesn't take away from other people it simply adds to the popular vote. Democracy is strengthened when more diverse groups people vote. Therefore, allowing felons to vote will not take away from the government only make it stronger.

2025-04-10 16:24:07 UTC

Yes prohibiting felons from voting disproportionately affects certain groups. As most felons are people of color who were charged with less serious crimes but got accessories added on to their charges making them get felonies. Felons make a chunk of possible voters so prohibiting them from voting does affect a certain group. It also shows the inequalities of the system and how voting for certain groups and people are restricted or made difficult so they can't vote.

25jpham6 — 2025-04-10 16:25:40 UTC

The history of felon disenfranchisement dates back to the 19th century and impacts today's policies due to events that happened in the African American community and much more. This process was used to prevent many marginalized groups from voting. These policies significantly affect minorities and people of color from having any involvement in today's society. This further pushes on systemic injustice and suppresses people of color from voting, making them feel as though they could not feel connected to their community.

25jpham6 — 2025-04-10 16:26:39 UTC

Felons shouldn't all be treated the same due to the various kinds of crimes they committed. Many might have been more severe than others. However, I believe that the severity of their crime can determine the voting rights. Robbery or the possession of drugs cannot possibly compare to assault and the action of manslaughter. While they are all caught and have reasons as to why they were charged, they had a lesser offense than those who committed murder. These individuals also have a lot of time to look back on their crimes and learn to become better person. Which is why when restoring someone's voting rights, the severity of their crime must be taken into account.

2025-04-10 16:29:47 UTC

Voting rights should be restored as part of reintegration onto society. Many felons want a second chance and rejoin their communities as well as be productive citizens. For these felons voting is a big part of that process. After completion of their sentence and requirements of their punishments voting should be restored to former felons as part of their reintegration. This allows former felons to want to continue using their voice in a positive way to impact society. They feel like less of an outsider and restoring right to vote can make reintegration easier. Truly believing in rehabilitation is also believing in restoration of rights, such as the right to vote.

2025-04-10 16:32:03 UTC

Yes it might as some people still don't trust felons who were released and spent their time in prison. Some felons might also not vote for the best candidate. But in one ways it strengthens democracy as it allows a group of people to vote. It also allows them to be involved in politics and their civil duties.

2025-04-10 16:32:46 UTC

I don't think all felons should be treated the same, and it should depend on the severity of the crime. The severity of the crime should determine if a felon can vote or not, because some felonies are just from speeding or transporting dentures across state lines. If felons have their voting dictated by the severity of the crime then it would result in more people being able to vote.

2025-04-10 16:35:33 UTC

Yes, prohibiting felons from voting disproportionately affects certain groups and reinforces systemic inequalities. Specifically, the colored people in the United States are practically seen as criminals when they don't have to be. All it does is just take their rights away and is denying decent rights especially for an individual person especially voting.

25anguyen23 — 2025-04-10 16:37:58 UTC

I believe that felons should have their voting rights reinstated instead of being stripped entirely of this privilege. Punishing felons by stripping them of their voting rights entirely does not do anything except exclude them from the voting pool. This silences felons from having any say or voice in the political environment, leaving others to decide for them. However, I think that stripping them of their voting rights while serving the felony should be a justified consequence, since they must be accountable for their actions. Once the felons serve their time and become rehabilitated, then their voting rights should be restored. Similar to Florida's justice system where they must go to a judge and prove that they are reformed.

25jpham6 — 2025-04-10 16:38:29 UTC

I do believe that there should be an application process for felons to be allowed to regain their voting rights. The severity of their crimes must be taken into account for the crimes they had committed. This is for them to take charge of the choices they make in their life and look back on what they did. Those authorized to look over these applications can assess whether or not felons can finally vote. By being able to regain their voting rights, they can display their passions about voting or wanting to change society's policies.

25iswanson — 2025-04-10 16:41:36 UTC

I believe that all felons should be treated differently depending on the severity, nature, and circumstances of their crime. If a person has committed a violent crime their circumstances to regain their voting rights back should be much longer and much harder than it is for someone who committed a nonviolent felony. Rehabilitation of felons is possible in some cases, individuals who show remorse and are trying to be positive influences to society after incarceration should be able to earn their voting rights back.

2025-04-10 16:43:23 UTC

The severity of the crime should restrict certain rights of felons. As a serious crime should not be given privileges. If the crime committed was not to serious they should be allowed to vote.

25iswanson — 2025-04-10 16:44:46 UTC

I believe that a persons voting rights should be restored only after they've served their sentence in prison. Allowing felons to vote while they're in prison takes away from the whole idea of them paying for their crimes and accepting the consequences of their crimes. Due to them being incarcerated they also might not be fully informed about the candidates they're voting for, politicians won't cater their media to incarcerated individuals. Overall, I believe that voting rights should be restored once felons have served their time in prison.

2025-04-10 16:45:26 UTC

I believe felons should have their voting right reinstated instead of being completely stripped of this privilege. After proper completion and fulfillment of their punishment felons should have restored of their rights. Felons have already been punished for their crime and taking their right to vote away will take them away from their civil rights.

2025-04-10 16:46:37 UTC

I believe that having the ability to vote restored as apart of reintegration could change peoples minds about them wanting to do good for society. I believe that people are a reflection of who they are around and how they are treated. If people keep getting treated like they are bad people having their rights taken away they will never be able to change.

2025-04-10 16:50:30 UTC

I believe not all felons should be treated the same, however the severity of their crime should determine their voting rights. We never know the extend of someones situation and what lead them to this path. It is injust to label a hungry individual for stealing on multiple accounts and facing a felony charge to a repeated sex offender/rapists. The 2 are incomparable and therefore cannot be treated the same and both be eligible to regain rights. Everyone makes mistakes but everyone's mistakes look different.

2025-04-10 16:52:36 UTC

Felons should be allowed to vote because voting is a basic human right that should not be permanently taken away. Many people say that allowing individuals who have completed their sentence to vote supports their reintegration into society by building a sense of civic responsibility and connection to their community, while denying them this right can increase feelings of isolation and slow down rehabilitation. This shows voting rights help and teach felons to contribute to be responsible members of society. Being included will push them to make better choices and stay out of trouble. While doing the opposite, would push them away and make it more complicated for them to rebuild their lives.

2025-04-10 16:55:19 UTC

I believe it all depends on the person and the crime they have done. But yes they should be able to vote.

2025-04-10 16:58:53 UTC

Felons should be able to vote after getting released they should get their voting rights reinstated. I think that getting their right to vote reinstated would help them reintegrate back into society.

2025-04-10 17:01:58 UTC

For this issue there should not be a decision that is based on state as this creates a whole other issue. This should be something that is a nation wide standard as this creates division within the states and the people in them. I believe that people should be treated with the intent that they have the ability to change their life for the better. This would only create the idea that no matter what they do they could not be good enough.

25emclaughlin — 2025-04-10 17:02:16 UTC

I believe that the severity of the crimes they committed should be taken into account. If the crimes they have committed are severe, it should determine their voting rights. I think also how recent the crime was committed should be looked at because they could've changed as a person since their crime.

25emclaughlin — 2025-04-10 17:04:39 UTC

Voting rights should only be restored once they have served their sentences. There would be too much chaos trying to get the vote someone who is currently serving a sentence for their crime. After serving their sentence, being able to vote would help them ease them in and help them integrate back into society.

2025-04-11 18:41:23 UTC

I feel that voting while incarcerated should not be allowed. Those incarcerated knowingly broke the law, and therefore lost their privileges to vote. Incarcerated individuals should regain their right to vote after serving their full sentence. This way, they will be informed about the current state of society and are able to transition back into society.