1. Background
 A. Definitions and Concepts
| Q1. |
What is a felon and what is a felony? |
| Q2. |
What is disenfranchisement? |
| Q3. |
Is voting a privilege and not a right? |
| Q4. |
Other than felons, what other citizens are prevented from voting? |
| Q5. |
Are felons on probation or parole considered to be still serving their term of imprisonment? |
B. Felon Demographics &
Statistics
| Q1. |
What is the breakdown of the felon population by the type of crime committed? |
| Q2. |
Other than voting, what other privileges and/or rights do felons lose? |
2. Legal Considerations
A. Constitution & Supreme Court
| Q1. |
What does the U.S. Constitution say about voting and punishment? |
| Q2. |
Do felon disenfranchisement laws conflict with the U.S. Constitution? |
B. Federal & State
Laws
| Q1. |
How do U.S. felon disenfranchisement laws vary from state to state? |
| Q2. |
Does U.S. Congress have the authority to legislate felon enfranchisement in federal elections? |
| Q3. |
What is Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA)? |
| Q4. |
Does Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) apply to felon disenfranchisement laws? |
| Q5. |
Do state reenfranchisement procedures fairly and effectively enable felons to regain the ability to vote? |
| Q6. |
How are prisoners accounted for in residency counts for voting and congressional district representation? |
C. International Laws
| Q1. |
How do U.S. felon disenfranchisement laws compare to those of other countries? |
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3. Election Implications
A. Past Elections
| Q1. |
Did Florida's felon disenfranchisement laws cause Al Gore to lose the 2000 presidential election? |
B. Future Elections
| Q1. |
Would re-enfranchised felons, voting as a bloc, subvert laws protecting society? |
| Q2. |
Are felons more likely to vote for Democrats over Republicans? |
4. Disenfranchisement Considerations
A.
Philosophical
| Q1. |
Does the "social contract" theory present a valid reason for felon disenfranchisement? |
| Q2. |
Does the concept of 'taxation without representation' justify giving felons the vote? |
| Q3. |
Is felon disenfranchisement a reasonable step in the process of rehabilitating felons and re-integrating them back into society after prison? |
B.
Sociological
| Q1. |
Should felons lose their ability to vote in elections because society can no longer trust them or their judgment? |
| Q2. |
Are felon disenfranchisement laws a form of racial discrimination? |
C.
Policy-Oriented
| Q1. |
Should felons be permitted to vote while in prison? |
| Q2. |
Should felons out of prison but under judicial supervision (i.e. parole or probation) regain their ability to vote? |
| Q3. |
Should felons have to pay all fines, fees, and restitutions related to their conviction before regaining their vote? |
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