The Right To Vote Should Never Be Denied To Any Citizen

Our Founding Fathers created a representative democracy - one that would be controlled by the voters of the country. It was far from perfect, since only men (mostly white) who were property owners could actually vote.

Slowly, that was rectified. A constitutional amendment and civil rights law extended that right to citizens that were not white - and another constitution amendment extended the right to women.

Many Americans now consider the right to vote is firmly established for all citizens (even though Republicans are currently trying to restrict the right of those they think might vote against them).

I disagree. The right to vote is still denied to millions of American citizens. I refer to the millions of prison inmates and people on probation or parole. State laws deny the right to vote for these people. There is nothing in the U.S. Constitution about denying the right to vote for those convicted of a crime.

This is an additional punishment levied by states for the conviction. But a court has already decreed their punishment, and that was probation or incarceration. Why should the state be allowed to add another punishment?

In a democracy, the right to vote is sacred. It should not be denied to any citizen for any reason. Even though incarcerated or on probation, these people are still citizens - and the elected government (both state and federal) affects their lives - sometimes dramatically! They should still have a voice in determining the government.

I know that these people have committed a crime - sometimes a heinous crime. I'm not saying they shouldn't be punished. But that punishment should be left to a court of law. And the punishment should never include taking a citizens right to vote away from them.

When the right to vote is taken from one group, it endangers that right for all groups. The right to vote should never be taken away from any citizen - for any reason!