Should Felons Have the Right To Vote?

Should Felons Have the Right to Vote

Before answering the question about the right of felons to vote it seems that it would be unfair to make a judgment without making any clarification of the matter . Robert Fischer and Gion Green stated that the federal definition of felony is an offence punishable by death or by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year (p . 107 . Fischer and Green noted that the definition of felony is by no means standard through out the United States . They pointed that in some jurisdiction there is

no distinction between felonies and misdemeanors (p . 107 . In the memorandum issued by the king county superior court on 27 March 2006 , in a case Madison v . State the court concludes that felons who have no problems with their remaining sentence but have problems on their financial obligation would be eligible to vote . The ruling of the King County court reinstates to all felons who 's terms of sentences they have already satisfied except for the unsettled legal financial obligation which because of their financial incapability are unable to immediately pay their financial obligations , the right to vote

In other words , those who are convicted of felony in either federal or state court lost their right to vote but those who are convicted of a misdemeanor or being convicted in juvenile court do not lose their right to vote . In the introduction of Superior court of the State of Washington 's memorandum decision in the case DANIEL MADISON , BEVERLY DUBOIS , AND DANIELLE GARNER v CHRISTINE O . GREGOIRE , and SAM REED (defendants ) the court stated that Article 3 of the Washington State Constitution states that the right to vote does not extend to those convicted of infamous crimes unless restored to their civil rights (Superior Court of States of Washington King county . The dependants d a complaint for declaratory relief in court against disenfranchisement scheme of the Washington State arguing that it violates the equal protection clause of the constitution of the United States . The issues that were argued are the as follows : whether the privileges and immunities clause of the Washington Constitution was violated by the Washington 's felon disenfranchisement case whether the felon disenfranchisement scheme violates the equal protection clause of the constitution of the United States and so forth . Article 3 of the Washington 's Constitution states all persons convicted of infamous crimes are disqualified of their right to vote (Madison v . State , No 78598-8 , infamous crimes have been defined by Washington legislature as any offense punishable by death or confinement in correctional facility ' RCW 29A .04 .079 in the above mention case plaintiffs cited the constitutional provision that voting is inherent right of an individual in a democratic society but the washing State maintained its ruling that a person convicted of felony loses his or her right to vote except when it is restored . The Supreme Court of the United States emphasized that it is fundamental for all citizens the right to vote citing court...