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submitted 11 months ago by girlfreddy@sh.itjust.works to c/news@lemmy.world

Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont submitted the legislation, named the Inclusive Democracy Act, on Tuesday which would guarantee the right to vote in federal elections for all citizens regardless of their criminal record.

In a statement, Pressley said the legislation was necessary due to policies and court rulings that “continue to disenfranchise voters from all walks of life — including by gutting the Voting Rights Act, gerrymandering, cuts to early voting, and more.” Welch called the bill necessary due to “antiquated state felony disenfranchisement laws.”

In late 2022, approximately 4.6 million people were unable to vote due to a felony conviction, according to a study by the Sentencing Project, a nonpartisan research group. The same study found that Black and Hispanic citizens are disproportionately likely to be disenfranchised due to felony

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[-] not_that_guy05@lemmy.world 32 points 11 months ago

If the person has paid by doing their sentence and are in good faith trying to integrate into society, they should be able to vote.

Except traitors and or domestic terrorists, they can go fuck themselves.

[-] CarbonIceDragon@pawb.social 20 points 11 months ago

Honestly even those should be able to vote. If there are enough to actually win an election, then the area in question has a problem regardless, and if not, then the only actually consequencential effect of forbidding it would be that unscrupulous political groups could try and declare their enemies traitorous to try to disenfranchise them.

[-] just_change_it@lemmy.world 13 points 11 months ago

No taxation without representation.

[-] morphballganon@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago

Democracy is a social contract. If you break the terms of the contract by attempting to overthrow democracy, you lose the rights afforded by that contract, like voting.

[-] just_change_it@lemmy.world 8 points 11 months ago

The problem with that reasoning is that the vast majority of felonies aren't trying to overthrow a democracy. Punishments should fit the crime.

A DUI shouldn't stop you from voting, nor should a conviction for being a prostitute. Burglary shouldn't either. The punishments for each of those felonies should be different and determined case by case. None of them have anything to do with voting.

[-] morphballganon@lemmy.world 6 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

You were responding to someone who was talking about traitors.

[-] glimse@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago

My friend got busted for an ounce of weed when he was 18 and got a felony (intent to distribute...as if the pothead wasn't just gonna smoke it all himself).

He's very politically-conscious and always pushing people to vote. I wasn't thinking and asked if he wanted to go with me and man...I've never seen a smile turn to a frown so fast.

[-] PsychedSy@sh.itjust.works 3 points 11 months ago

I have a friend that got popped in uni. Lost federal aid, loans, grants and ended up back in bumfuck Kansas.

[-] not_that_guy05@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago

My friend I'm talking about felons charged with trying to over throw the government, not just regular felons. I stated that I agree with felons voting once they paid their sentence. I support reintegration of people that are trying to change their lives.

I've worked with 2 strikers and felons and have seen some giving back to the community more than someone that hasn't done crime. Trying to prevent the youth from ending up the same way.

[-] cosmicrookie@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

Attempting to overthrow the democracy is a very specific crime that very few have actually attempted let alone charged for

[-] cosmicrookie@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago

Even people in jail should be allowed to vote. Wtf!

this post was submitted on 06 Dec 2023
450 points (97.5% liked)

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