Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Musketeer
"No Taxation Without Representation."
I fail to see how you can tax a felon and then deny them the right to vote on their representation.
|
Um, because the law states that if you violate the law and are convicted of that violation, one of the consequences are that you lose certain rights. Voting being the right we are discussing.
I would agree that way too many felonies have been created by legislative acts. But, there has always been a way to change this. The fact that it has not been changed, means that, on its face, the populace agree with the law,
as it is written and applied.
Therefore, one who knowingly violates the law, does so knowing that if caught and convicted, they will loose certain civil rights as punishment for their actions (see below).
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by 44 AMP
As to the voter issue, who is most at fault, those deliberately signing up ineligible voters, or the state for failing in their responsibility to provide adequate resources to meet their obligation?
|
As a matter of justice, I would think both are equally at fault.
Those who are
deliberately violating voter registration laws should be prosecuted. The problem here, is that the State would have to prove that the person doing the registrations
knew the registrant was ineligible. That may be difficult at best. It might be easier to prove that registrant knew they were ineligible.
This would be easier to do, if all courts were required to tell the person at the time of sentencing, what rights they have lost because of their conviction. Currently, many courts do not do this. If it were done, then the convict would have no "excuse" for their actions, as they
knew they were now a proscribed person.
The other side of the coin is the State itself. The only reason the State could have for not making the proper correlation would be if the Legislature did not require the various databases to be queried (and give authority to do so) and/or not provide for the proper funding of such correlation.
Here, many legislatures do pass such laws, but without proper funding. Funding would require more taxation and many legislatures are loath to tax their constituents. So "feel-good" laws are passed that can't be enforced.