Most democratic countries allow all citizens to vote, regardless of whether they have a criminal record. This is based on the principle that everyone should have a say in how their country is run.
However, some people argue that felons – people who have been convicted of serious crimes – should not be allowed to vote. They argue that felons have shown that they cannot be trusted to make responsible decisions, and allowing them to vote would undermine the integrity of the democratic process.
There is no easy answer to this question. On the one hand, it could be argued that everyone deserves a second chance and that allowing felons to vote would help them reintegrate into society. On the other hand, it could be argued that felons have forfeited their right to vote by breaking the law.
As a college student with no felony record and who is ignorant of the extremes of the legal system and voting restrictions, I have taken it upon myself to research the advantages and disadvantages of having voting rights. I’ve also decided that convicted criminals should be allowed to vote after looking at various other folks’ viewpoints on the internet.
Here are the reasons for my opinion. The first, and most important reason is that democracy is based on the idea of having all voices heard. If we take away the voting rights of criminals, we are silencing a large portion of our population. Democracy is about giving everyone a say, not just those who have never made a mistake.
Another reason is that once someone has served their time and paid their debt to society, they should be allowed to fully reintegrate into society. This includes being able to vote. Voting is an important part of being a productive member of society, and if we want people to succeed after they leave prison, we need to give them all the tools they need to do so.
Finally, it is important to remember that not all criminals are the same. Some have committed very minor offenses and served only a short sentence, while others have been convicted of serious crimes and served many years in prison. The punishment should fit the crime, and once someone has served their time, they should be given the opportunity to vote just like anyone else.
There are of course some arguments against allowing felons to vote. One is that they may not be fully rehabilitated and could use their vote to further criminal activity. However, there are systems in place to prevent this from happening, such as requiring felons to register with the government and providing ID when they go to vote.
Another argument is that felons have proven that they cannot be trusted to make responsible decisions, and so they should not be allowed to have a say in how our country is run. However, this argument fails to take into account the fact that everyone makes mistakes, and that people can change. Just because someone has made a mistake in the past does not mean they should be denied their basic rights as a citizen.
If you are looking for a longer-term solution, then it may be worth your time to write up your thoughts in a blog post or presentation. This might not be the most popular option, but it is how I feel, and I’ve come up with three sensible reasons as to why felons should be able to vote again after they complete their sentence. Democracy, Crime, and Reformation are three good points.
As an American, I am supposed to believe in democracy and equality for all. Well, how can I call myself a democrat when nearly 6 million of my fellow Americans are not able to vote because of a past felony conviction? That’s nearly 2.5% of the voting population! How is that democratic? Not allowing felons to vote is un-American and goes against one of our most basic beliefs as a country.
Secondly, I believe that if we allow felons to vote it might actually help prevent crime. A study done by the Sentencing Project found that “felon disenfranchisement laws have no significant impact on either the felony or violent crime rates”. In other words, taking away someone’s right to vote does not stop them from committing crimes. In fact, it might even have the opposite effect.
Finally, I believe that felons should be allowed to vote because it shows that we as a society are willing to reform and give people a second chance. Once someone has served their time and paid their debt to society, they should be given the opportunity to fully reintegrate back into society. Allowing them to vote is one small way to show that we are willing to forgive and forget.
So there you have it, three logical reasons why I believe felons should be allowed to vote. Democracy, crime, and reformation. What do you think? Do you agree or disagree? Let me know in the comments below.
I believe that people should have the right to opt out of any group they don’t want to be a part of, especially since insurance companies are allowed to deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions. It doesn’t seem correct to me that laws like as Obamacare can alter their health insurance plans while keeping them from having their thoughts heard regarding how they think those policies are handled. Because it is currently relevant in our culture, I’ll use Obamacare as an example.
Democracy isn’t a one-way street where everyone’s voices are heard but the felons. If they have served their time and are now rehabilitated citizens, then they should be able to enjoy the benefits that come with being a U.S. citizen, including voting. Democracy should be for everyone and not just the people who haven’t made mistakes in their past.
There is also the argument that if felons are allowed to vote, then they will just vote for candidates who are lenient on crime. However, I believe that this is not always the case. Some felons may have been involved in crimes such as drug possession and may want stricter laws against drugs so that other people don’t make the same mistakes that they did.
