If there is one crime that should bar people from voting in future elections, it's voter fraud. I mean actual fraud, like voting at home and where you also have vacation houses. Not mistakes, fraud.
Other reasons for disenfranchisement seem irrelevant to democracy. Why shouldn't felons vote? But people who deliberately subvert democracy might ought to lose the right to vote.
The Florida lege threw a monkey wrench in a ballot issue that restored felons' voting rights after release by insisting they had to pay all their fines and administrative costs first before that kicked in. If Trump's convicted in the hush money case, are those niggling considerations going to affect him?
You'd enjoy Australia. Every citizen over the age of 18 is entitled to register and vote. People serving a prison sentence of over 3 years ate temporarily barred, but their right is restored the second they're released. Probation etc. doesn't make any difference. People serving LESS than 3 years vote from prison.
There are precisely two ways to be permanently disenfranchised.
1. Be declared "of unsound mind" by medical professionals (we did this for my mother, who had severe dementia).
2. Be convicted (not charged, CONVICTED) of literal treason. Which seems fair.
Australia's not perfect by a long way, but BY GOD we can Election.
Imagine WW3 has broken out, and as the MIRV equipped ICBMs descend from space, the AI in control of them unaccountably decides to send the whole fucking bunch to land dead centre on the steer humping state. For Reasons....
I dunno man, being on probation and then committing a crime and not getting your probation revoked... That seems like a double standard. I don't really care that the recent crime was one many think shouldn't be a crime. It is a crime and when they put you on probation they are really clear about the whole not doing crimes thing.
Add in that he's the GOP co-chair, the judge should have sent him to minimum security for a few months. So justice can be seen to be done.
Also, what messed up political party has a guy on probation for financial fraud as the party co-chair? Ok, the same one that has the rapist who's facing 88 felony charges and owes NY half a billion dollars, but still.
Thank you, Robyn, for pointing out that the right to vote (so-called) is regularly alienated.
The Constitution requires we have a "republican form of government," meaning a representative one. The Constitution goes on to require regular elections, and hires the states to operate them subject to Congress's commands. Subsequent articles of amendment require states to recognize the citizenship rights their people have as citizens of the United States, as well as their state of residence.
Further amendments prohibit a few classic voter suppression tactics -- poll taxes and minimum age requirements greater than 18. These amendments also bar lawmakers from denying eligibility to vote on account of race, previous condition of servitude, or sex. A further amendment requires Congress accept and count no fewer than three ballots cast by presidential electors chosen by the voters of the District of Columbia.
Nowhere in all the original language or the subsequent marginalia is voting, ever, described as a right.
It ought to be. And the day that the forces for good control all the necessary levers of power to do so, they should propose to conventions of the people across this land an amendment clarifying that no law that alienates a citizen of these United States from their inalienable right to vote has any effect. (That might just kill gerrymandering, too.)
"...we see a whole lot more stories about Republicans doing voter fraud than we do about Democrats"
It's ALWAYS projection with Republicans. Every accusation is a confession.
All I can say Robyn, is that you are a hell of a lot better person than I am.
She did serve 10 months before she was released. Absolute disgrace! I’m so ashamed of my state.
If there is one crime that should bar people from voting in future elections, it's voter fraud. I mean actual fraud, like voting at home and where you also have vacation houses. Not mistakes, fraud.
Other reasons for disenfranchisement seem irrelevant to democracy. Why shouldn't felons vote? But people who deliberately subvert democracy might ought to lose the right to vote.
The Florida lege threw a monkey wrench in a ballot issue that restored felons' voting rights after release by insisting they had to pay all their fines and administrative costs first before that kicked in. If Trump's convicted in the hush money case, are those niggling considerations going to affect him?
Jebus h Pete.
Amen, Robyn. You said it all.
You'd enjoy Australia. Every citizen over the age of 18 is entitled to register and vote. People serving a prison sentence of over 3 years ate temporarily barred, but their right is restored the second they're released. Probation etc. doesn't make any difference. People serving LESS than 3 years vote from prison.
There are precisely two ways to be permanently disenfranchised.
1. Be declared "of unsound mind" by medical professionals (we did this for my mother, who had severe dementia).
2. Be convicted (not charged, CONVICTED) of literal treason. Which seems fair.
Australia's not perfect by a long way, but BY GOD we can Election.
They call it Good Friday, but was it really?
https://www.google.com/search?q=alien+crucifixion+joke&client=tablet-android-samsung-rvo1&sca_esv=070a86fdf7893579&sca_upv=1&udm=2&biw=1280&bih=800&sxsrf=ACQVn0_d3y0nVkehc4zqSGpa-a1XwpHDrA%3A1711744660888&ei=lCYHZqLoNaLKwbkPufSO8AU&oq=alien+crucifixion+joke&gs_lp=EhNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwIhZhbGllbiBjcnVjaWZpeGlvbiBqb2tlMggQABiABBiiBEiZQ1CqH1j5P3AAeACQAQCYAaABoAHWBaoBAzQuM7gBA8gBAPgBAZgCB6AC7QXCAgUQABiABMICBxAjGLACGCfCAgcQABiABBgNmAMAiAYBkgcDNC4zoAffDQ&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp#vhid=3VO3nCRVeKk3MM&vssid=mosaic
So, there's one Law for white men of financial substance, and one for women (especially women of color)? Here? In the US? Who knew?
Great headline, Robyn. Tis a far far better thing you have written!
Imagine WW3 has broken out, and as the MIRV equipped ICBMs descend from space, the AI in control of them unaccountably decides to send the whole fucking bunch to land dead centre on the steer humping state. For Reasons....
I dunno man, being on probation and then committing a crime and not getting your probation revoked... That seems like a double standard. I don't really care that the recent crime was one many think shouldn't be a crime. It is a crime and when they put you on probation they are really clear about the whole not doing crimes thing.
Add in that he's the GOP co-chair, the judge should have sent him to minimum security for a few months. So justice can be seen to be done.
Also, what messed up political party has a guy on probation for financial fraud as the party co-chair? Ok, the same one that has the rapist who's facing 88 felony charges and owes NY half a billion dollars, but still.
Thank you, Robyn, for pointing out that the right to vote (so-called) is regularly alienated.
The Constitution requires we have a "republican form of government," meaning a representative one. The Constitution goes on to require regular elections, and hires the states to operate them subject to Congress's commands. Subsequent articles of amendment require states to recognize the citizenship rights their people have as citizens of the United States, as well as their state of residence.
Further amendments prohibit a few classic voter suppression tactics -- poll taxes and minimum age requirements greater than 18. These amendments also bar lawmakers from denying eligibility to vote on account of race, previous condition of servitude, or sex. A further amendment requires Congress accept and count no fewer than three ballots cast by presidential electors chosen by the voters of the District of Columbia.
Nowhere in all the original language or the subsequent marginalia is voting, ever, described as a right.
It ought to be. And the day that the forces for good control all the necessary levers of power to do so, they should propose to conventions of the people across this land an amendment clarifying that no law that alienates a citizen of these United States from their inalienable right to vote has any effect. (That might just kill gerrymandering, too.)
Such a good Friday! Anybody murdered today?...
Oh Shit! I forgot it's Easter Joke Time!!!
________________________________________________________________________
--You know why Jesus can't eat M&M's?
--They fall through the holes in his hands!