A selection of our reader comments is provided below. While not all of the comments are as on point as others, we believe many of our readers' comments add perspective and flavor to our core question "Should felons be allowed to vote" and this site.
We posted these pro, con, and not clearly pro or con comments in the approximate ratio that we received them. (For example, if 60% of the responses received are "pro," then about 60% of the responses posted below would be "pro").
The comments are arranged in reverse chronological order within each category. We sometimes edit comments for brevity, clarity, and spelling. We may also remove comments posted when we find better comments covering the same issues or for other good reasons. To preserve confidentiality, only the writer's first name is noted, unless he/she has waived confidentiality. Respondents are generally notified when we add their comments to this section.
PRO Felon Voting
CON Felon Voting
"I believe that a felony conviction alone should not preclude your right to vote. However, I do believe that the person who committed the felony should be completely free of all legal obligations (released, completed parole, paid all fines and fees). You are not going to tell me that it is the case where the convicted felon at age 18 holds the same reasoning and judgement when they are now age 35 (barring servious mental illness)? Who among us would stand up to that litmus? I believe once a person has completely served his 'time' and FULLY PAID his 'debt to society', that he has 'earned' his right to vote." Kerrie, June 19, 2008
"Of course Felons should have the right vote! Amendment 15 article 1 says 'The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or __previous condition of servitude.__' That means all people - no matter what!" Eitan, June 19, 2008
"Yes!!! I believe felons should be allowed to vote! As tax payers and citizens, why should we not have the right to vote?...I registered to vote at the age of 17 ½ and was an active voter until my rights were taken away! I have children and want them to learn about the right and privilege to vote and want to have a say on the issues and leadership in my country! I think the only felony charge that should ban a person from voting should be one where voting fraud is committed!" Angela, Apr. 16, 2008
"I believe that a person should have their rights restored if they have paid their debt to society, and they have completed parole or probation honorably. I completed my sentence and my parole honorably in 1987, but am still treated as a second class citizen. My question is: Why?" Scott, Jan. 15, 2008
"Yes felons should vote. They still pay taxes. Further, their input on voting could perhaps influence who comes in office. They have the best insight on how the justice system can be improved having been on both sides of it, and can help select a suitable candidate who can improve America." Shiron, Nov. 15, 2007
"I think that felons should have the right to vote but the major criminals should have their voting right confiscated." Cory, Oct. 3, 2007
"Not an election goes by where I don't get depressed about this [felon voting] issue. I can live without guns in the house but the lifetime isolation from voting and not being able to make changes for the better, sucks. Excellent work to all of you. I appreciate it." Mike, May 1, 2007
"[A]s soon as anyone commits a crime against another 'human' (or animal, in my opinion) they have infringed on the rights of the population in general. consequently, they have rejected any and all rights of a citizen.
The only rights they have are to humane treatment, other than that, they have no rights - they made the choice when they committed the crime." Kakokie, Sep. 18, 2009
"I do not approve of felons having the right to vote because, frankly, any criminal that violates the rights of others should lose their rights in prison. And once the felon has earned their rights back they continue to be called felons...
[F]elons should not have the right to vote. They are not trustworthy and competent enough to make decision in honoring the rights of other's, nor to keep this country safe and free from criminals, who only learn to survive in prisons by dealing in contraband, fighting, killing and taking what they want when they want to. To me these types of felons are not good voting material." John J. Pecchio, author, www.johnpecchio.com, Aug. 12, 2009
"Felons should NOT be allowed to vote. They lost the privilege to vote when they broke the law. If we let them vote for something like the death penalty or life without parole then they would just vote for whatever benefits them." Anonymous, May 1, 2007
