I believe that convicted felons should not be allowed to vote while they are incarcerated. However, after they have served their time or paid their debt to society, I believe they should be allowed to vote upon release. That is because in order for them to be fully assimilated back into society they should be treated like all other members of society as much as possible. That means at least allowing them to vote again. To deny an ex-con the right to vote is to say they have not paid enough already. I do not believe that is right and is counter productive to making them feel like valued and respected members of society again. It makes them feel unequal and does not promote a good attitude on their part towards society. I am not saying that such mistreatment would cause them to return to prison by breaking the law but it certainly does not help them to assimilate again into society.
I also think that denying some 4.7 million ex-cons the right to vote is tantamount to treating them like second class citizens or worse. During the time of slavery, slaves were not considered citizens and were counted as 3/5 of a person. By denying some ex-cons the right to vote the government in a way is treating them like slaves. It may not be denying that they are human beings but it is saying that just like slaves they cannot vote. They can work their butts off, pay taxes, follow all the rules of society, and be free but they do not have the right to vote. Such disenfranchisement is neither right nor fair in my opinion. Plus, if ex-cons are not allowed to vote they are not really being represented. After all, they have no voice in determining who their government representatives are. Nevertheless, they are being taxed. Isn't there something in the Constitution about "no taxation without representation"?
Some ex-cons not being allowed to vote is especially odious when one considers that the real reason so many Republicans oppose all ex-cons having the right to vote is that most of them would vote Democrat. That is just plain self-serving on their part and is something that should not be allowed to go on. It is nothing less than government or political corruption, in my opinion.
Finally, as an African American some ex-cons being unable to vote is particularly odious to me in terms of my people's long struggle to gain the right to vote. It is also odious to me because a disproportionate number of Blacks are ex-cons. For me to oppose ex-cons having the right to vote would be for me to betray my own race. Plus, I have ex-cons in my family. I could not imagine looking any of them in the face and saying I oppose you being able to vote because you have not paid enough for your crimes. Of course they have. That is why they were released. I would feel like nothing but a traitor to my own family members to have such an attitude.
So, those states that do not allow ex-cons to vote need to stop depriving them that right. It is wrong, immoral, evil, and un-American in my opinion. It does not make America a better place but it makes it a worser place instead. That is because an injustice against one group should be considered an injustice against all. Not allowing ex-cons to vote is most certainly unjust.
