Fed judges: Wash. felony inmates should get vote

[The Northerner]

Source: Associated Press

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Incarcerated felons should be allowed to vote in Washington to ensure that racial minorities are protected under the Voting Rights Act, a federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday.

The 2-1 ruling by a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the 2000 ruling of a district judge in Spokane. That judge had ruled that state law did not violate the act, and dismissed a lawsuit filed by a former prison inmate from Bellevue.

The two appellate judges ruled that disparities in the state's justice system "cannot be explained in race-neutral ways."

The issues the ruling raises about racial bias in the justice system are not unique to Washington state, said Marc Mauer, executive director of The Sentencing Project, a Washington, D.C., group promoting sentencing reform.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100105/ap_on_re_us/us_felons_voting

[hughee99]

1. It will be overturned...

A federal court telling a state they need to let currently incarcerated convicts vote, it won't hold up. The state can do it if it wants to, but I'll bet the determination is that the federal government has no place getting involved in this.

[bluestateguy]

2. Only Maine and Vermont allow incarerated felons the vote

and seriously, how many of them actually bother?

Now once you have served your sentence, then I believe your voting rights should be automatically restored.

[AverageJoe5]

3. The judges' fallacious logic

The judges boldly state that disparities in the state's justice system "cannot be explained in race-neutral ways." I presume what they mean is that, since there are more racial minorities incarcerated, therefore (by the judges' fallacious logic) the justice system is biased against racial minorities.

But there are many groupings where there are racial disparities, and those disparities are not due to racial bias. For example, almost all professional hockey players are members of one racial group, but that disparity in not because of racial bias in selecting professional hockey players. And most professional basketball players are members of another racial group, but that disparity is not due to racial bias in selecting professional basketball players. So, why can't the racial disparity in convicted felons be due to reasons other than racial bias?

[Robb]

4. Dude.

You did not really just make that argument.

[AverageJoe5]

5. Please, teach me something ........

... Please tell me what's wrong my argument. Thanks.

[saigon68]

7. Enjoy your stay

are you a plumber?

[David__77]

6. I agree.

In fact, I believe all citizens over age 18 (though I'd prefer age 16) should have the right to vote. Even in China this is the case.

[bemildred]

8. About time. nt

[Javaman]

9. On the surface, I understand the logic...

however, I would prefer that they get their right to vote returned to them, AFTER they serve their times.

But, just think of what the campaign trail would look like if they did give them the vote. That would be classic must see TV!!!

talking head: so senator how are your poling numbers going with convicted felons?

senator: well, better than I thought, I only got shivved when I visited the inmates.

talking head: only shivved?

senator: well, yeah, there were bets among the skinheads, crips and MC-13 fellows that I would be killed. So it's a win win, in my book!