>>>>>Florida has over 30,000 felons registered to vote, which is in violation of Florida law. The story says Ds outnumber Rs by 2 to 1. I'll bet that is new math. My experience says it's more like 100 to 1. More to follow. . . .
>>>>>
>>>>>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flbfelons1012sboct12,0,3762352.story
>>>>
>>>>I have to admit I'm a bit amazed that any state has a law that says a citizen can't vote. 10 states have this sort of law - astonishing.
>>>
>>>I believe they relinquish that right when they commit and are convicted of the felony.
>>
>>I'm not sure I agree that they should lose the right even while still incarcerated, but I can see an argument made for that, but after serving their time, and being back out in society, presumably to live and work and raise a family, losing the right to vote forever seems extreme to say the least. The fact that only 10 states still have such a law is a pretty good tip off that it's a very disagreeable proposition.
>
>Rather interesting. It would seem to me that these state laws that are supposed to keep these convicted felons from voting EVEN AFTER they've finished parole and such is actually illegal. Surely there is something that could be done about it at the federal level. I can't imagine stripping someone of voting for the rest of their life because they sold a bag of weed back in the 70's - but apparently that's what some of these states want to do.

Section 2 of the 14th Amendment gives the states the right (according to the Supreme Court):

2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice-President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State

Reading it myself, I guess the right can only be denied males :o) Oh yeah, there was that amendment giving women the right to vote and I think it mentions in accordance with, yadda yadda yadda...

You may find this article interesting:

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1553510,00.html