Posted on 03/11/2005 10:37:19 AM PST by QQQQQ
A coalition of liberal groups is hailing the state of Nebraska for restoring the voting rights of felons.
Although Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman, a Republican, vetoed the bill on Wednesday, the state's unicameral legislature overrode his veto on Thursday by a 36-11 vote (six votes more than the 30 needed for an override).
The new law will automatically restore the voting rights of Nebraska felons two years after they complete their prison sentences or meet the terms of their parole or probation.
Right now, it takes a pardon to restore voting rights in Nebraska, but pardons aren't granted until at least ten years after a sentence is completed.
The new law is expected to affect thousands of former convicts, beginning in September.
"This is yet another great win for our democracy and the movement to end felony disfranchisement across the country," said Rashad Robinson of the Right to Vote Campaign, which assisted in the effort to let Nebraska felons vote.
The Right to Vote Campaign - a coalition that includes the ACLU, NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, People for the America Way and three other organizations -- said Nebraska now joins 36 other states in allowing people with felony convictions to vote.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnsnews.com ...
"then felons will be allowed to vote while in prison."
Exactly. And wouldn't we just love to have the winner decided by the vote of some felons, in a narrow election.
Loss of Constitutionally guaranteed voting rights for life? That's not something I would hand out as lightly as we hand out felonies in this country. If the person is too dangerous to pick our leaders, then that person should not be out of jail.
Not to mention bogus gun laws.
"I don't think anyone, save God (death), has the right to take away anotehr person's vote."
You've got to be kidding.
The laws of the US determine people's right to vote.
The right of felons to vote was taken away for a reason -- so they don't end up determining the winner in a narrow election.
For the 0.5% of the people convicted of felony offense, who may deserve to be given a second chance to vote, you want to give a blanket permission to all those who were convicted of felonies, which includes murderers and child molesters.
The article said, that in Nebraska, after 10 years, some felons could get a pardon, then they could vote. But now any felon can vote after two years of being out of jail.
I have to agree with you on this one. I think it's a little disturbing that some people here seem to think that it's OK to have never ending sentences handed down for every "felony".
When I took the classes for my concealed carry permit, our instructor pointed out that, if we stopped at the gas station or anywhere else on the way to the range with our pistols that morning, we were guilty of a felony because we did not yet have a carry permit.
Wonder how Charlie Starkweather voted ?
I question how many of them have or will ever vote.
I agree. However, voting rights should be restored on a case-by-case basis. 1-time drunk driver? Sure. Habitual drunk driver? No way.
IMHO:
With the recent tragic events in Altanta, perhaps we should take another look at the rights of felons or wannabe felons.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this horrible deed.
Stop being a felon. Stop. Bad human. Stop. (hits you on nose with newspaper)
Apparently I'm beyond hope and the world will be a better place if someone comes along and prevents me from voting again. LOL
Laz- got felon
laz, whats the dif good felon, bad felon ?
And those people have paid their debt and have the same right to vote that you do. If you commit the crime, you do the time. If you then take away there right to vote, then you take away the governments right to collect taxes from that person.
Have you heard of taxation without representation? And what about those who are not convicted? Is it okay for O.J. Simpson to vote and not the guy who made a mistake and paid his debt?
As for your assertions about murderers and child molesters.. If we as a society don't want them to vote, then we surely don't want them walking around campaigning for a politician. They might convince that one person to make the final decision in a close election. So, we should make sure they are locked up forever. I'm okay with that. But if a person is convicted and does their time. When they are released, they get to vote!
I've never been convicted of anything, but if I accidentally shot someone or was arrested for DUI or killed and intruder and was convicted of manslaughter, you don't have the right to take away my right to vote once I have completed my punishment. Period.
The wacko group supporting this also supports giving illegal aliens resident status, driver's licenses and etc. We have a very small but effective group of liberals here that are really pi$$ing off some people and gettting some bills through that we just cannot understand. Its time to take back our state from these liberal whack jobs but they are like moles (trolls?). They somehow slip in under the radar and then WHAM!
Well, you know how in the old movies, the two crooks play 'good felon - bad felon'.
They start by being questioned by the cops, and the one felon gets all violent, then the other one goes, "You know, I'm worried about my partner, he's crazy. Maybe if you just stopped the interrogation, you might not get hurt."
Currently in most states (Nebraska now excepted), if you commit a felony you loose the right to vote. This is because you have committed a serious crime against society.
The penalties for the crime and the loss of this right should be considered a deterrent to crime. Loss of Constitutionally guaranteed voting rights for life?
Sorry, for felonies, that's the way it's been for a long time. Don't do the crime. Currently the Governor's and the President of the United states can restore this right
I hope that you are not asserting that those of us who support restoring a persons right to vote would agree with giving Illegal aliens any rights. Let me be clear. Illiegal aliens are not afforded any rights anywhere in the Constitution and they should not be given amnesty, a driver's license, free healthcare or anything, but a foot in the ass on the way out the door.
I support every citizen having the right to vote regardless of their past. I do not support any non-citizen's right to anything.
"Next you'll be telling us that people shouldn't be put in jail for their first felony offense, give them another chance..."
Do you think that all felons serve jail time? You should be careful, you probably committ at least one felonous offense a month and don't even know it.
Carole Ann Fugate for governor!
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