Should felons be allowed to vote? Standard Site An estimated 5.26 million people (as of 2004) with a felony conviction are barred from voting in elections - a condition known as disenfranchisement. Each state has its own laws on disenfranchisement. While Vermont and Maine allow felons to vote while in prison, nine other states permanently restrict certain felons from voting. Proponents of felon re-enfranchisement say that felons who have paid their debt to society by completing their sentences should have all of their rights and privileges restored. They argue that efforts to block ex-felons from voting are unfair, undemocratic, and politically or racially motivated. Opponents say felon voting restrictions are consistent with other voting limitations such as age, residency, sanity, etc., and other felon restrictions such as no guns for violent offenders and no sex offenders near schools. They say that convicted felons have demonstrated poor judgment and should not be trusted with a vote. Core Question Top 10 Pros & Cons Did You Know? Historical Timeline Comments

Felon Voting ProCon.org is a nonpartisan, nonprofit website that presents facts, studies, and pro and con statements on questions related to whether or not felons should be allowed to vote.

Pros & Cons by Category CORE QUESTION   Should felons be allowed to vote? Felon, Felony, & Disenfranchisement Defined   What is a felon and what is a felony?   What is disenfranchisement? Felon Population Statistics   What is the breakdown of the felon population by the type of crime committed?   How are prisoners accounted for in residency counts for voting and congressional district representation?   Other than voting, what other privileges/rights do felons lose? Elections & Politics   Are felons more likely to vote for Democrats over Republicans?   Did Florida's felon disenfranchisement laws cause Al Gore to lose the 2000 presidential elections?   Other than felons, who else can be prevented from voting?   Would re-enfranchised felons, voting as a bloc, subvert laws protecting society? Race   Are felon disenfranchisement laws a form of racial discrimination? US Constitution   What does the US Constitution say about voting and punishment?   Is felon disenfranchisement unconstitutional? Voting Rights Act   What is Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA)?   Does Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) apply to felon disenfranchisement laws? Federal & State Law   How do US felon disenfranchisement laws vary by state?   Does the US Congress have authority to legislate felon enfranchisement in federal elections?   Do state reenfranchisement procedures fairly and effectively enable felons to regain the ability to vote? International Law   How do US felon disenfranchisement laws compare to those of other countries? Philosophical Questions   Is voting a privilege and not a right?   Does the "social contract" theory present a valid reason for felon disenfranchisement?   Does the argument of 'no taxation without representation' justify giving felons the vote?   Should felons lose their ability to vote in elections because society can no longer trust them or their judgment? Policy-Oriented Questions   Should felons be permitted to vote while in prison?   Should felons out of prison but under judicial supervision (i.e. parole or probation) regain their ability to vote?   Should felons have to pay all fines, fees, and restitutions related to their conviction before regaining their vote?   Are felons on probation or parole considered to be still serving their term of imprisonment?

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