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This is dangerous thinking, punishing people by making them 'non-citizens'. Prisoners are still humans and a part of society, they should have their voices heard and their rights respected.

Agreed. In Maine, felons can vote. I have a family member who struggled with hope, moving on and contributing to society after he got out. He cried when he found out he could vote, and do something to contribute to society and be valued again. It's really important.

We also need to remember that there are many people that have been wrongly convicted at this moment.

Yup, they say it's 2-10% of people who are in prison are innocent. Meanwhile, you don't get to vote on the very government officials who are running the police, the prosecutors, and the prisons that are imprisoning you, via tax dollars? It's a complete joke.

and prison isn't all about punishment. sure there's an aspect of you have to serve your time, but shouldn't the biggest focus be on how we can rehabilitate prisoners so they can return to society as productive members of it and make the community even better???

Agreed completely. One of my brothers once said to me: "I fucked up. I paid the price. I did my time. I want to give something back. I want to do good. I want to feel like I'm a person again. But it feels like I have to pay for this crime forever. I am a felon, forever."

I'm so proud of him. He couldn't get work w regular employment, so he made his own business (with some help/support) and even testified in ME state legislature about removing the "felon box" from interview applications, due to its discriminatory nature. Giving back to the cmmty!

So rapists can be on the ballot but not in the voting booth? Why?

Those incarcerated can vote in Canada. True democracy only works when everyone has a voice. If they're subjected to the law why can't they have a say on who makes it?

The US is a constitutional republic, not a direct democracy.

... so is Canada. Mass disenfranchisement is bad for any society that rests its legitimacy in the consent and participation of the governed.

What other rights can we suppress while they're in prison Pete?

I mean most of their rights are already denied, they're literally behind bars after a trial and conviction... If you disagree with the convictions/sentences, fix the criminal justice laws

All the more reason why restricting their right to vote is unnecessary. Our system is already sufficiently punitive.

The people hurt most by the White infrastructure have the most at stake with their vote. Our “justice” system was created to protect white privilege and to suppress the vote and rights of POC. #LetThemVote #RevolutionIsComing