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