Should felons be allowed to vote? Many states restrict or deny voting rights to those convicted of serious crimes.

• Author: Mauer, Marc
• Position: Debate

For several years, the U.S. Justice Department has been urging states to repeal laws that prevent felons from voting. A felon is anyone convicted of a felony--a crime that usually involves theft or violence, or both.

Laws that prohibit felons from voting have been found to be constitutional. In 1974, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld California's policy of prohibiting felons from voting because, it said, the 14th Amendment allows voting rights to be denied "for participation in rebellion, or other crime." Most states have adopted some kind of voting restrictions for felons, with many allowing voting once they've served their sentence. Only two states-Vermont and Maine--have no restrictions.

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YES When the United States was founded as an experiment in democracy two centuries ago, it was a very limited experiment.

The Founding Fathers decreed that women couldn't vote. They also denied this fundamental right to blacks, poor people, illiterates, and people with felony convictions.

Today, all but the last of these groups have won the right to vote. This leaves nearly 6 million people with felony convictions barred from the electoral process.

State laws on whether people with felony convictions can vote vary widely. In 12 states, a felony conviction can result in a lifetime voting ban. That means an 18-year-old convicted of first-time felony drug possession in Florida or Virginia who successfully completes a treatment program may never vote again.

There need to be conseguences for people who break the law, but punishment for a crime shouldn't deny basic rights of citizenship. People convicted of crimes can still get married or divorced, or buy and sell property. A democratic society doesn't impose character tests on fundamental rights.

Felony disenfranchisement policies disproportionately affect minorities. Nationally, one in every 13 black adults can't vote because of a felony conviction. In two states-Florida and Virginia--one in five black adults can't vote.

Denying the right to vote is also counterproductive to public safety. When people return home from prison, they're expected to work, pay taxes, take care of children, and be responsible citizens. People who feel they have a stake in their community will be less likely to harm their neighbors.

Denying the right to vote sends a message that these individuals are second-class citizens. This is hardly a...