Stage 7

A fundamental right of having a United States citizenship is the right to have your voice heard by voting to elect representatives. However, around 6 million citizens cannot vote in the U.S because they have been convicted of a felony. In November, Floridian citizens had voted on a ballot measure that restored voting rights to over 1.5 million Floridian felons. This was a groundbreaking new law that would give those with felony charges a second chance to reimmerse themselves in civil processes as an American citizen. Unfortunately for these felons, who Florida voters intended to give a second chance at life, were totally undermined by a series of regulations that were put in place by republican voters. I believe that these regulations were put in place with intention to put these felons back in the same place they came from, and that these regulations were written by ill-willed people. These felons must pay back fines and fees first if they would like to participate in the voting process again. Many of these felons have left prison with nothing and have already struggled with acclimating to the struggles of the real world, they are often without money and in poor health. Most of these felons would not be able to pay back fines, and I believe this is just another route these republicans have taken to ensure felons can’t vote. In all honesty, these regulations remind me of the Jim Crow laws, and other racist ways that people tried to keep black people from voting in the past. We should have evolved from this already. This is so unfair to both the 4 million voters, who’s votes and intentions are being invalidated by these regulations, and the felons who are targeted by this blatant form of discrimination. Voting is one of the most basic rights and freedoms in this country, and it should be open to ANYONE regardless of ANY condition. This is the basis of democracy, and the Republicans who have enacted these regulations are clearly against democracy and want things their way.