Why Do Felons Get Their Right To Vote

1111 Words3 Pages

“Many People say that serious crime committers have shown they aren’t trustworthy” (Clegg). After a felon is released from prison, the expectation would be that they would shape up and return to their lives, however most of their lives are completely changed. When a felon is released from prison, they should retain their same rights as a US citizen as well as their right to vote and serve in Jury Duty, because they served their time and cannot be held in double jeopardy, and are valuable assets to the country for work and less homelessness. When felons are released from prison they should retain their same rights as the average US citizen as well as the right to vote. Nonviolent felons who have served time for more than a year for misdemeanors are As of 2015, 12 out of 50 states inmates, parolees, probationers, and ex-felons are not allowed to vote (Green). Felons who have paid their debt to society should have all of their rights and privileges restored thus meaning their right to vote. We allow these ex-felons to get married, buy and own a house, have a family, and drive a car, why not allow them to vote? These are the basic rights of a US citizen, but because they served jail time, they are unfit to choose our next leaders. “Nearly 6 million voting-age Americans can’t vote in the 2016 primaries and presidential election because of various state felon disenfranchisement laws”(Green). The right to serve in jury duty is also excluded from ex-felons. As a US citizen, voting-age men and women are put on a list which is pulled from the voters. This list is used to find men and women for jury duty, because they are in able to

Open Document