--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, turquoiseb <no_reply@...> wrote: <snip> > In most states, if you have > been convicted of a felony, you lose the right to vote. > Forever. No appeal.
Actually, only one state (Virginia) permanently disinfranchises those who have been convicted of a felony. In most states, there is a process for felons to regain voting rights after they have served their time (and in two states, Vermont and Maine, felons can even vote from prison). Twelve states make it very difficult but not impossible for felons to regain the right to vote eventually. > The vast majority of people convicted of these recently- > converted-to-felony "crimes" are minorities, who stat- > istically vote Democratic. Nationwide, over two million > African-Americans (13%) have lost the right to vote. > Two percent of *all* Americans (or 3.9 million) have > lost the right to vote for this reason. Actually 5.85 million Americans (2.5%) and 7.7% of African-Americans are unable to vote because of a felony conviction as of 2010, the most recent year for which complete records are available.
