Should Former Felons Be Allowed to Vote?

2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SITE

Last updated on: 1/21/2020 10:51:45 AM PST

An estimated 6.1 million people with a felony conviction are barred from voting in elections - a condition known as disenfranchisement. Each state has its own laws on disenfranchisement. Some allow people with felony convictions to vote from prison, some restore voting rights after varying combinations of prison, parole, and probation, and some ban former felons from voting permanently.

For more information, visit felonvoting.procon.org.

Pro

Biden

Hawkins

Jorgensen

Con

Not Clear or Not Found

Trump

Pro (Yes)

Pro

Biden
Democrat

"The Biden Administration will incentivize states to automatically restore voting rights for individuals convicted of felonies once they have served their sentences."

Source: Joe Biden, "Justice," joebiden.com (accessed Jan. 13, 2020)

Pro

Hawkins
Green

"Voting Rights for Felons: End the loss of voting rights for felons and parolees and make participation in civic affairs can part of rehabilitation and reintegration into society."

Source: Howie Hawkins, "Issues: Criminal Justice Reform," howiehawkins.org, June 16, 2020

Pro

Jorgensen
Libertarian

"Yes. This is especially true because we over-incarcerate in this country. There are almost 80,000 inmates in federal prisons, and hundreds of thousands in state prisons, convicted of non-violent, victimless crimes."

Source: Communication from the Jorgensen campaign to ProCon.org on Aug. 26, 2020

Con (No)

Not Clearly Pro or Con

Trump
Republican

"They're [the state of Virginia] giving 200,000 people that have been convicted of heinous crimes, horrible crimes, the worst crimes, the right to vote because, you know what? They know they're gonna vote Democrat. They're gonna vote Democrat and that could be the swing [in the 2016 presidential election]. That's how disgusting and dishonest our political system is."

Source: Fox 10 Phoenix, "FULL: Trump Rally in Rhode Island - First Event Since Cruz-Kasich Strategy Announced - FNN," YouTube.com, Apr. 25, 2016

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