Question for DUers - how come voters who are ex-cons

[malaise]

aren't allowed to vote but candidates can be ex-cons? I'm thinking about the one who went to prison for murdering 29 miners.

[dumbcat]

1. The Constitution?

Voting by ex-cons is, I believe, up to the State's Constitutions and laws. So too, I think, are the qualifications to be placed on a State's ballot.

Does that help?

[malaise]

6. Yep - state laws

Thanks

[unblock]

2. west virginia doesn't disenfranchise felons who have fulfilled all their sentencing requirements.

that said, your question is probably valid in some other states.

when they put the disenfranchisement laws in, my guess is that it doesn't always occur to them to also bar them from elected office.

[malaise]

7. Thanks

[mopinko]

17. but isnt he still on parole?

[unblock]

20. his probation ends this wednesday.

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4118116-Blankenship-Probation-Letter-October-2017.html

[Staph]

21. Technically, Blankenship is not a felon.

On December 3, 2015, Blankenship was found guilty of one misdemeanor charge of conspiring to willfully violate mine safety and health standards.

Murdering SOB, but not a felon!

[tammywammy]

22. Same in Texas. n/t

[former9thward]

23. He is running for federal office.

The only restrictions that are allowed are those in the Constitution. There is nothing in the Constitution about ex-cons so states may not restrict anyone from running for federal office on that basis. States can restrict people running for state office however.

[EffieBlack]

3. Depends on the state

[Afromania]

4. One does thing for the own behalf the other is go in on behalf of the folks that control the levers

of power in this country. At least it is my absolute level best guess.

[NBachers]

5. Here's a list of voting rights throughout the states. States set their felon voting-right policies.

http://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/felon-voting-rights.aspx

[malaise]

8. Thanks

Let me bookmark that.

[Brother Buzz]

16. Speaking of books:

Here's a book that belongs in your 'To read' pile: Conned: How Millions Went to Prison, Lost the Vote and Helped Send George W. Bush to the White House. by Sasha Abramsky. Dated but still relevant.

[malaise]

18. Thanks

Now I have four books to order.

[CrispyQ]

9. Good for Maine & Vermont!

One should never lose their right to vote. The issues & candidates affect those in prison, too.

[A HERETIC I AM]

10. Even though I can't stand that scum bag, he didn't murder anyone

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. The UK has anomalies about qualifications for voting, and holding elected office

MPs, in the House of Commons, and thus members of the European Parliament, are allowed to keep their seat if they are convicted and their prison sentence is under a year - and they still get paid, even though they cannot go to the parliament or represent their voters in any way. This happened for an MEP of mine (elected as a UKIP MEP; though they expelled him from the party, the rules say he stayed as an MEP) who was sentenced to 6 months for benefit fraud, and continued drawing his generous salary, for about 4 years after the conviction.

Meanwhile, no one is able to register to vote while in prison. The European courts have been trying to make the UK change this, and make losing your vote have to be an explicit part of the sentence, but successive governments have just stonewalled this. But they never tried to say "MPs sent to prison must lose their position".

[malaise]

12. Interesting

Thanks

Thanks everyone

[Blue_Tires]

13. States are slowly but surely seeing the light

and in many places paroled felons can apply for reinstatement...

[mcar]

14. We'll have a constitutional amendment to restore voting rights

on the FL ballot this fall. This heinous practice was recently declared unconstitutional by a judge but Rs are fighting it tooth and nail.

Republicans don't want more voters. Period. Specially poors and POC.

[malaise]

15. Very good news. ReTHUGs are not interested in democracy

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

19. Shhhh! Quiet! Let the miner-murderer win his primary.

He'll be the easier of the possible Repub candidates.

He might not get the votes of miners.

[TexasBushwhacker]

24. He was found guilty of a single count of misdemeanor conspiracy

Sad but true