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[D'ultimate]

In a sweeping executive action on Friday that overturns a ban that has existed since the Civil War, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe restored voting rights to about 200,000 people who have felony convictions.

All convicted felons who have completed the terms of their sentence and their parole or probation will be eligible to vote immediately, according to the measure signed by the governor, who once served as the chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

"Too often in both our distant and recent history, politicians have used their authority to restrict people's ability to participate in our democracy," McAuliffe said in a statement Friday morning. "Today we are reversing that disturbing trend and restoring the rights of more than 200,000 of our fellow Virginians who work, raise families and pay taxes in every corner of our Commonwealth."

https://news.vice.com/article/virgi...han-200000-convicted-felons-the-right-to-vote

I know not everyone agrees this is a good thing and his critics thinks this is just a ploy to get Hillary elected but it does show why it's important to vote down ticket.

Even if it is a ploy reinstating people's civil rights and opportunity to shape their future shouldn't be considered a bad thing.

 

[wrens]

"...who have completed the terms of their sentence and their parole or probation..." -- Seems fair.

 

[Wilsongt]

Good.

 

[bobbychalkers]

 

[Kickz]

Why not, couldn't do any worse than alot of the electorate

 

[Treo360]

That's wonderful! Can't wait until all states follow suit (they won't) and the punishment ended when the time was served.

 

[shortsFortallPeople]

they paid their dues to society, let them help us shape the future of it.

 

[balladofwindfishes]

How have laws stripping voting rights from felons not been thrown out by the Supreme Court?

Seems unconstitutional that states can just decide certain people can't vote anymore.

 

[Palette Swap]

That's a really good thing.

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

People are boycotting Target for letting people use the bathroom.

Letting felons vote who have done their time a fine idea.

 

[cdyhybrid]

Seems reasonable to allow them to rejoin society once they've done their time. Especially for people with felonies stemming from garbage like the War on Drugs.

 

[FrontalMonk]

Wow. Go Terry. Feeling good about voting that dude in.

 

[Veritigo_X]

Good. They served their time, they should have the right to vote.

Can't wait to hear the republican argument against this basically boiling down to "but they'll vote democrat!".

 

[zero_suit]

"...who have completed the terms of their sentence and their parole or probation..." -- Seems fair.

Yeah, that's fine with me.

 

[ghostofsparta]

Great news

 

[HylianTom]

Aside from this being a good thing in principle, the New York Times' Upshot column estimates that this could help Dems' margin by .5% in November.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/23/u...s-move-on-felons-surprisingly-small.html?_r=0

And Virginia was already an uphill climb for the GOP. If those 13EVs go blue, their path to 269 goes from improbable to almost impossible.

 

[ivysaur12]

Republicans in Virginia are already saying this is to give more power to Democrats.

Just because something benefits one group (like DC voting rights) doesn't mean it's not morally correct. This is morally correct.

 

[Aurongel]

"...who have completed the terms of their sentence and their parole or probation..." -- Seems fair.

Anything less than this would bother me but I agree 100% with this.

 

[DeathoftheEndless]

I'LL BE BACK.

YOU CAN'T KEEP THE DEMOCRATS OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE FOREVER

AND WHEN THEY GET IN, I'M BACK ON THE STREETS!

 

[AuthenticM]

"...who have completed the terms of their sentence and their parole or probation..." -- Seems fair.

I guess it's better than nothing...

 

[Spinifex]

Can't believe this is a thing in the US. There was a little bit of controversy in an Australian state this week about taking away the ability to vote while IN jail.

 

[Xe4]

Good. They've paid their debt to society they should enjoy the benifits of it now. No good reason not to let an ex felon vote.

 

[ag-my001]

Republicans in Virginia are already saying this is to give more power to Democrats.

Just because something benefits one group (like DC voting rights) doesn't mean it's not morally correct. This is morally correct.

Maryland's (republican) governor wanted to do the same thing, but the legislature overturned his veto to give voting rights back to those still on parole or probation. I think I prefer the VA way.

 

[Slayven]

Republicans in Virginia are already saying this is to give more power to Democrats.

Just because something benefits one group (like DC voting rights) doesn't mean it's not morally correct. This is morally correct.

If they believed that you would think they would evaluate a system that pushes people away from them

 

[Ninja Scooter]

Can't believe this is a thing in the US. There was a little bit of controversy in an Australian state this week about taking away the ability to vote while IN jail.

Disenfranchising people is an American tradition. African-American males make up like 35% of the prison population despite being like 10% of the general population. I'll give you three guesses as to why not letting felons vote is a thing.

 

[Dali]

So they paid their debt to society and are no longer disenfranchised. I don't see how anyone can argue against this being fair.

 

[norm9]

If they did their time, I'm all for it. Being an ex-felon shouldn't be a scarlet letter.

 

[Matt_]

How have laws stripping voting rights from felons not been thrown out by the Supreme Court?

Seems unconstitutional that states can just decide certain people can't vote anymore.

Correct me if I'm wrong but the right to vote isnt protected by the constitution

 

[Piecake]

Fantastic. I hope others follow suit

 

[zero_suit]

Can't believe this is a thing in the US. There was a little bit of controversy in an Australian state this week about taking away the ability to vote while IN jail.

We're behind in a lot of things.

 

[RustyNails]

"Terry McAuliffe wants to ensure that convicted pedophiles, rapists, and domestic abusers can vote for Hillary Clinton," said Senate Republican Caucus Chairman Ryan T. McDougle.

These guys...

 

[GaimeGuy]

Anything less than this would bother me but I agree 100% with this.

Why would it bother you for an adult to be able to vote?

 

[dabig2]

Republicans in Virginia are already saying this is to give more power to Democrats.

Just because something benefits one group (like DC voting rights) doesn't mean it's not morally correct. This is morally correct.

Yeah, this is "unfair" in the same way that it's unfair that the 24th amendment ended poll taxes.

 

[Kemal86]

I met Terry about 10 years ago, and he was the picture of a slimy, slithering, snake-oil politician. Did not leave a good impression on me at all.

THAT SAID, this is a great move and long overdue. Good show.

 

[ivysaur12]

These guys...

Heeeeeeey fuck you.

 

[Orbis Tabula]

Go McAuliffe! He's been a pretty good governor so far.

 

[Kathian]

Seems crazy. Debate in the UK is if prisoners should have the vote. But done your time? Seems suppressive to take the right to vote.

 

[hobblygobbly]

I had no idea that the rights to vote were removed in the first place in the U.S (and some other countries) of convicted felons? What is the reasoning behind this?

In my country for example there is disenfranchisement but it's for very specific severe situation that is handled by a case-by-case basis where the request for disenfranchisement must go through the court such as someone responsible for treason or terrorism, there is no default disenfranchisement applied, the EU also sees it as a violation of human rights.

The entire idea of rehabilitation has been lost... you want people to get back on track, no disenfranchise them further while serving time...

 

[Stumpokapow]

All felons, including those currently serving time in prison, should be permitted to vote.

 

[D'ultimate]

A part of me feels like even if he's doing it to help the Dems this seems like the reverse of some of the shit Republicans pull in order to disenfranchise voters.

In other words good on him for fighting back against Republican bullshit. More Democratic leaders need to step up and do their part.

 

[ivysaur12]

All felons, including those currently serving time in prison, should be permitted to vote.

Agreed.

 

[davepoobond]

what was that Ted Cruz quote about 100% of criminals are democrats or something?


this is a step in the right (or left?) direction.

 

[Orbis Tabula]

All felons, including those currently serving time in prison, should be permitted to vote.

Yessir.

 

[Htown]

All felons, including those currently serving time in prison, should be permitted to vote.

Agreed.

 

[Fenderputty]

All felons, including those currently serving time in prison, should be permitted to vote.

Yes. They are represented just like anyone else by those who are elected.

 

[Wilsongt]

How have laws stripping voting rights from felons not been thrown out by the Supreme Court?

Seems unconstitutional that states can just decide certain people can't vote anymore.

Something something voter id laws...

 

[GK86]

Bravo. They have paid their debt, no reason they shouldn't be allowed to vote.

 

[johnny956]

All felons, including those currently serving time in prison, should be permitted to vote.

I agree as well but our courts have ruled that felons lose certain rights. 2nd amendment being one of them

 

[Slo]

Guess I'm in the severe minority. I'm completely okay with a convicted felon forever being a second class citizen, but that opinion is heavily influenced by the view I have of felons that I know personally. Every last one of them is a complete sack of shit, and I'd prefer that they not be allowed to participate in any decisions that affect me in even the smallest way. These people are so god damned meth'd out and untrustworthy that they shouldn't be allowed to vote just on merit.

I realize that for a lot of you this opinion carries a racial connotation, but where I live it's damn near 100% white, including the felons.

 

[Dali]

Guess I'm in the severe minority. I'm completely okay with a convicted felon forever being a second class citizen, but that opinion is heavily influenced by the view I have of felons that I know personally. Every last one of them is a complete sack of shit, and I'd prefer that they not be allowed to participate in any decisions that affect me in even the smallest way. These people are so god damned meth'd out and untrustworthy that they shouldn't be allowed to vote just on merit.

I realize that for a lot of you this opinion carries a racial connotation, but where I live it's damn near 100% white, including the felons.

So the person that got an unwarranted felony charge or is a felon but isn't a crackhead should be a second class citizen forever because some crack heads you know and probably wouldn't even bother voting if they could might actually decide to vote?