Felon voting rights.

• Author: Toth, Zita
• Position: TRENDS

A one-time encounter with the justice system can have lasting effects on an individual in more ways than one. For starters, those who have been imprisoned are far more likely to become inmates again. Within five years of release, 76.6 percent of prisoners are rearrested, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Then there are voting rights. Some 5.9 million Americans will be barred from voting in the 2016 presidential election because of a felony conviction, according to the Sentencing Project, an advocacy group for loosening restrictions.

From the time they were written, most state constitutions have permanently denied voting rights to people convicted of felonies. But states began reversing those prohibitions in the mid-20th century, and the trend has continued. Currently, 11 states permanently ban some felons from voting.

Advocates for restoring voting rights say voting can reduce recidivism by fostering a greater commitment to and involvement in the local community. They also point out that without a parental role model, children of disenfranchised voters are less likely to vote themselves, creating a cycle of disengagement.

Others say felons shouldn't be allowed to vote because they committed serious crimes. They've lost the public's trust. A loss of freedoms is simply a consequence of their poor judgment, they...