Bill To Allow Ex-Felons To Vote

Michigan Congressmen U.S. Rep. John Conyers (D-Detroit), has just reintroduced a bill in Congress that would allow ex-felons to vote in federal election, according to an article in the Detroit News.

This legislation would look to develop uniform federal standards for restoring the voting rights of felons who are no longer in prison.

Conyers has stated that too many states deny ex-offenders the right to vote after they leave prison.

"Disenfranchisement laws isolate and alienate ex-offenders and serve as one more obstacle in their attempt to successfully reintegrate into society,” Conyers told the Detroit News.

According to the Sentencing Project, there are an estimated 5.8 million ex-felons ineligible to vote in federal elections, that number includes more than 45,900 in Michigan, as reported in the Detroit News article.

Senator Ben Cardin (D-Maryland) sponsored a companion bill in the Senate, and he told the Detroit News, "The United States is one of the few Western democracies that allows the permanent denial of voting rights for individuals with felony convictions."

Cardin went on to say, "Congress has a responsibility to remedy these problems and enact a nationwide standard for the restoration of voting rights."

Should ex-felons be allowed to vote in all states?

Should this be left up to the states, as is the custom today?

What crimes if convicted would you say the ex-felon can never vote?

Once a criminal has paid his or her debt to society should they not then be able to vote?

Which political party would benefit most from this bill if passed.

Let’s discuss this today on my show the Live with Renk show, which airs Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to noon, to let me know your thoughts at (269) 441-9595.

Or please feel free to start a discussion and write your thoughts in the comment section.