4 ms·

I still find it abhorrent that incarcerated people can't vote in the US. That seems so obviously exploitable.

whakim 5y ago
Not only this, but in many cases felons permanently lose their right to vote, even after they serve their sentence. Edit: I stand corrected, this is true in some states but not others.
- drdavid 5y ago
  You may want to see this: https://www.aclu.org/issues/voting-rights/voter-restoration/felony-disenfranchisement-laws-map https://www.aclu.org/issues/voting-rights/voter-restoration/...
  - whakim 5y ago
    I stand corrected. Thanks for this.
    - drdavid 5y ago
      I used to think the same thing, until I read an article that made me look into it. The article I read was a local affair that pointed out that inmates are encouraged (in my state, Maine) to file absentee ballots in the town they lived in prior to incarceration. There are just a couple of states that allow that, but I learned that quite a few jurisdictions restore rights after incarceration, after probation, etc...
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
BurningFrog 5y ago
Voters should select their politicians. Not the opposite!
karaterobot 5y ago
As with so many generalizations about the U.S., it's more complicated than that, and varies on a state-by-state basis. Most people in jail retain the right to vote, regardless of state. People currently in prison on felony charges CANNOT vote in most states, but this is up to each state. In many states, you get your enfranchisement restored after completing your sentence. https://www.thoughtco.com/where-felons-can-and-cannot-vote-3367689 https://www.thoughtco.com/where-felons-can-and-cannot-vote-3...
- tyingq 5y ago
  >Most people in jail retain the right to vote, regardless of state. They may have the right to vote. Whether the facility lets it actually happen is another matter.
HumblyTossed 5y ago
And even when people vote to try and correct it (Florida), the GOP find some other reason to stop it.

Not only this, but in many cases felons permanently lose their right to vote, even after they serve their sentence. Edit: I stand corrected, this is true in some states but not others.

drdavid 5y ago
You may want to see this: https://www.aclu.org/issues/voting-rights/voter-restoration/felony-disenfranchisement-laws-map https://www.aclu.org/issues/voting-rights/voter-restoration/...
- whakim 5y ago
  I stand corrected. Thanks for this.
  - drdavid 5y ago
    I used to think the same thing, until I read an article that made me look into it. The article I read was a local affair that pointed out that inmates are encouraged (in my state, Maine) to file absentee ballots in the town they lived in prior to incarceration. There are just a couple of states that allow that, but I learned that quite a few jurisdictions restore rights after incarceration, after probation, etc...
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]

BurningFrog 5y ago

Voters should select their politicians. Not the opposite!

karaterobot 5y ago

As with so many generalizations about the U.S., it's more complicated than that, and varies on a state-by-state basis. Most people in jail retain the right to vote, regardless of state. People currently in prison on felony charges CANNOT vote in most states, but this is up to each state. In many states, you get your enfranchisement restored after completing your sentence. https://www.thoughtco.com/where-felons-can-and-cannot-vote-3367689 https://www.thoughtco.com/where-felons-can-and-cannot-vote-3...

tyingq 5y ago
>Most people in jail retain the right to vote, regardless of state. They may have the right to vote. Whether the facility lets it actually happen is another matter.

HumblyTossed 5y ago

And even when people vote to try and correct it (Florida), the GOP find some other reason to stop it.