Leslie Medina

Karen Perez
Felons spend a large amount of time paying for the errors they make. Some spend
many years of their lives in jail paying for breaking the law. There lives are withered away
behind bars. They get locked up for an error they made without the opportunity to live life. They
dont get to do something as simple as walking outside or going to eat or driving in traffic.
Felons are taking so much away to on top take away a right that as U.S. citizens they have.
Telling them that they can only vote once they are out of jail is unfair. Even more so obligating
them to pay their fines and restitution before they can vote is unreasonable. Its not a valid
reason to forbid felons to vote while in jail and then once they are out to obligate them to pay
large amounts of money to be able to vote.
When felons leave prison most of them find it hard to get back on there feet. Coming out
of jail they find it difficult to be accepted in society once again. Most ex-felons arent financially
stable meaning that it would take them years to be able to pay off their fines and restitution.
Research shows that only 40% of employers would consider hiring people with criminal records.
We can see how difficult it is for ex-felons to find a job considering that only 6.6-7.4% of total
working age population is made up of ex-felons. How can the government expect people to pay
what they owe when they cant find a job. Another obstacle that would be presented to ex-felons
is there education. Since 2008 over 36% of ex-prisoners have not earned a high school diploma
or GED compared to 10% of the general population. Imagine trying to pay a huge fine but not
being accepted by employers because of a decision they have already paid. Today its so
difficult to have a good paying job without an education and many ex-felons dont have one. So
its not a good compromise to tell felons once they are out of jail they can vote if they pay their
fines. Felons should be able to vote in jail so that if they have the opportunity to leave prison
they will atleast have the rights every other US citizen does.
Telling ex-felons that they have to pay their fines before being able to vote is
unconstitutional. The 24th amendment prohibits requiring a poll tax for voters in federal
elections. Yet ex-felons are being told until they pay they cant vote. This implies that ex-felons
have to pay some sort of poll tax before being able to vote. How can the government obligate
ex-felons to pay large amounts of money before being able to vote? Its unconstitutional and
would be so difficult for people like we stated before they have a hard time getting money to
even support themselves.
Being able to vote should not depend on your financial status. There is no hard facts
proving that preventing an ex-felon from being able to vote, something they have a right to, will
make them pay their fines. Not only is the government acting unreasonable towards ex-felons
but they are hurting themselves as well. Its one argument to not let them vote while in jail
because you claim we cant trust them or they dont deserve to vote since they broke the law but
its completely different to not let them vote when they leave until certain requirements are met.
It makes the U.S. look bad to not allow certain people a right to have a say in who is in charge
of our country simply because they dont have the money to pay their fines. Yes felons obviously
made a choice that went against their law but that doesnt make them any less humans. It
doesnt give the government the right to take what the constitution guarantees them. Overall

felons should be able to vote because telling them that once they're out of jail they can, is a total
lie when they are put with even more barriers that will prevent them from doing so.

Conclusion:
All the evidence we have presented is showing why felons should be able to vote. We
believe that inmates should be able to vote while they are in jail because breaking the law
doesnt make them any less of a citizen. As stated, people who commit serious crimes go to jail
for a reform not to be dehumanized. If felons are considered U.S. citizens while in jail, why is
one of our most fundamental rights being taken away? Sending someone to prison isnt meant
to take the rights that as U.S. citizens we all have. By taking felons right to vote we are taking
their most important rights as citizens and preventing them from being participants of their
community. Elections are what chose our countries next leaders and although they are still
incarcerated, felons have a right to vote in the case that one day they are released and can be
happy with the leader chosen. Even if they dont leave jail their lives are still affected because
the government decides how prisons work and how prisoners live.
Felons should be able to vote not only because it is there right but because they are in
prison for the crime they committed and are given a sentence that equals the crime. Not
allowing felons to vote is adding on to the punishment making it unconstitutional. They are in
prison to learn from their mistakes and become a better version of themselves. So why not give
them a U.S. citizens most important right. Give them the right to vote.
Felons should be able to vote because its a right that as US citizens they have. It was fought in
the past for us to have it. Claiming that they dont deserve it because they are in jail and its their
punishment is wrong because jail isnt meant to take their rights away. They should be able to
vote in jail because they are still part of the US population and their lives are affected with the
governments decisions.

We made it clear that it isnt a good enough reason to prevent felons from voting
by saying we cant trust their judgement. Like our group stated there are many people
who arent felons that are allowed to vote who make irrational decisions. Even more so
something your side stated is that they fall into the same category of kids and
undocumented people whose judgements we dont trust. But some minors are even
smarter than adults and have more education than those who vote. Also undocumented
people arent dumb. They arent allowed to vote because of the way the government has
handled that issue but that doesnt mean we cant trust their judgment and quite frankly
its offensive.
We also stated how jail isnt meant to dehumanize them. As stated the point of
prison is meant for two purposes
to punish those who commit felonies

 to reform them so that they can leave a functional member of their

community. But that doesnt mean its meant to take peoples rights away that as
US citizens they deserve.
Like someone stated voting is a right giving to US CITIZENS going to jail doesnt
mean all of a sudden you arent a citizen. If its a right that all US citizens have like our
group stated the government shouldnt take away the right to vote just because people
are in jail
You also stated that felons have to earn the right to vote back and that the gov.
should do it carefully. But we gave information how it would require them to pay fines
first which would be very difficult for them. So telling them they cant vote in jail but can
once they leave is a false promise. You put obstacles in their way that makes it hard to
return to being treated as a US citizen. Since its hard enough for them once they leave
jail they should be able to vote while in jail that way once they are out atleast they have
all their rights.
It was stated that voting is a right we have to fight for but people in the past
fought for that right so that that people in the future wouldnt have to
It was argued that research shows that many ex-felons end up going to jail. But
thats not to be blamed on the felons and that they arent working its to blame prison and
the fact that the system isnt working. Maybe if you allowed felons the ones who are
actually in jail then the amount of felons who return to jail would decrease.
with the 15th amendment you said that it only works for past-servitude but like
stated ex-felons are presented with so many obstacles in life like having to pay fines
which they can barely do before voting.