Push to put more felons on voter rolls could help Obama in historic presidential race

[Nambe]

Source: Associated Press

... Nationally, there are roughly 4 million released felons whose convictions have cost them the right to vote at least temporarily, if not permanently. To return to the ballot box, felons must negotiate suffrage laws that vary from state to state, in many cases working with election officials who can be both unfamiliar with the law and hostile to former convicts seeking to register.

Such challenges matter little to Bailey and others trying to return former criminals to voter rolls, an effort they consider crucial in light of the results of the past two presidential elections: A shift of a few hundred votes in Florida in 2000 would have changed the outcome of the presidential race, and the results in 2004 came down to a margin of 119,000 votes in Ohio.

The nonprofit groups and individual activists making the push on felons' behalf agree the effort is broader this year than in previous elections, even if they aren't necessarily making a coordinated push. They expect that effort to benefit Barack Obama more than John McCain, given that the population of former felons is disproportionately black. ---

Read more: http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-felons-voting,0,5210009.story

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. A headline only Ron Fournier could love.

[jody]

2. Government should restore all civil rights to felons who have completed 100% of their sentence.

That would include RKBA because it is a civil right protected by the Second Amendment for law-abiding citizens.

[ohio2007]

6. That go for Enron fat cats ? nt

[Posteritatis]

13. If they completed their sentences? Sure

I don't believe in placing further restrictions on someone's rights after they've done their time, regardless of whether I happen to like the person it's happening to or not.

[An Intellectual]

3. Wow, thanks for posting that title.

[Trajan]

4. Yeah ... because only felons can help Obama win ....

Obama is clearly supported by the criminal element, as obviously noted in this story ....

And here I was thinking normal people were appreciating Obama's candidacy ....

I suppose I better vote for McCain, because felons are not voting for him, as far as I can see ....

[An Intellectual]

5. Felons DO vote for McCain; they own and run corporations across the country.

[ohio2007]

7. $700 billion bailout help keep Wall Street Czars happy and are NOT felons !

:sarcasm:

but seriously
The bailout plan is fundamentally flawed and would only serve the interests of Wall Street Czars

[Iggo]

8. I'm a convicted felon in California.

Other than gun laws, passort issues, and the odd traffic cop, it doesn't really phase me.

Ask me again, if I ever have to change jobs. My current employer was extra cool about it, mostly because I was extra honest about it.

But as far as voting is concerned, it's not a problem. It's amazing how many people THINK it's a problem, though. I meet them all the time. Back in '04, when I was still living in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, a dark red part of our state, I ran into a woman at the polls who was outraged...OUTRAGED...that she didn't have to show ID to vote. She said, "How do you know whether or not people are citizens? Or felons? This is what's wrong with this country." I was 2 or 3 spots behind her in line and I shouted, "I'm a convicted felon and I vote all the time, and if you'd ever voted before, you'd know you don't have to show ID. People who never vote are what's wrong with this country."

We lost that day, but I still feel good about that one.

[An Intellectual]

11. Without divulging *any* personal information...

... how did you find your employer? Was it a job agency?

[Iggo]

12. Nepotism.

My brother got me some temp work and it blossomed from there.

I busted my ass in the warehouse for cash for many months. They liked my attitude and my effort, but we all saw that at 42 yrs old I wasn't gonna make it out there. I had hair down to my ass and a mouthful of broken and missing teeth from my war against my addiction (BTW: The war's over and I lost. I surrendered 10/28/1996.) They said, "Cut your hair and fix your teeth, and we have a spot for you in the office." They spotted me 3 grand for the dental work, which I paid back on a strict schedule in 6 months. So at 46 I'm right where I should've been when I was 22...lol.

Yeah, I know. You said no personal information. But telling on myself keeps me clean, sane, and honest.

[bitchkitty]

15. I think you're awesome! n/t

[An Intellectual]

16. That's an inspiring story. :)

[lligrd]

9. There Is No Good Reason To Not Allow Felons To Vote nt

[Myrina]

10. Yahoo has this article too --- the not-so-subtle racism is disturbing...

"felon" = "black man" in most of America's minds, which of course can only translate to Obama being a "lawless, Godless, liberal who will let the rapists and the drug dealers take over your city and have your frail, fragile white women. Be afraid America, be afraid!"


:eyes:

[enuegii]

14. This is what they're up to in Alabama...

This excerpt is from the Oct. 4 edition of The Decatur Daily (I would post a link, but you have to be a subscriber to view the complete article):

With Riley(the Governor) serving as a federal judge's court-appointed overseer of Alabama's election system, legal aides to Riley last year compiled a list of 444 felonies they considered to be convictions of moral turpitude, which state law says are the only crimes that disqualify citizens from voting.

The governor’s list includes about 70 felonies that involve moral turpitude, including violent crimes like murder, robbery, rape, drug trafficking and numerous sex-related offenses.

But the governor’s legal aides also classified about 370 other crimes as involving moral turpitude, including attempted arson, breaking and entering a vehicle, attempted burglary, criminal mischief, possession of burglary tools and burning a U.S. flag or cross.

"Burning a U.S. flag or cross"? WTF?