Can a Felon Vote in Texas?

Texas is found in the south central part of the United States of America. It is the second largest state in the country in terms of population and area. It is also known as the “The Lone Star State” and is surrounded by Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and the Mexican States of Nuevo Leon, Coahuila, Tamaulipas and Chihuahua. The capital of Texas is Austin but its largest city is Houston.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is the government agency charged with the control and management of the offenders incarcerated in state jails, state prisons and private correctional facilities. It is also charged in providing funds for the supervision of individuals under parole and probation. read more

Can a Felon Vote in Tennessee?

Tennessee is an American state found in the southeastern region of the country. It is the 16th most populous and 36th largest out of the 50 states of America. Its capital is Nashville but its largest city is Memphis with a total population of 655, 770. Tennessee is most notable for being the home of country music. Aside from the, Elvis’ Graceland is also be found in this state.

As of November 2016, Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) houses 29,603 inmates in total. The Tennessee Department of Correction operates and manages 10 adult prisons. It also works together with a private prison management company to operate one prison. It also has contracts with several counties to operate three other prisons. Aside from the 29, 603 inmates mentioned, it also supervises the probation, parole or community corrections of 79,000 other offenders. read more

Can a Felon Vote in South Dakota?

South Dakota is a state in America. It is found in the Midwestern region of the country. Named after the Sioux Native American tribes Lakota and Dakota, the capital of South Dakota is Pierre. South Dakota is surrounded by the following states North Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Wyoming, Montana and Nebraska. As of 2016, South Dakota has a population of 865,454.

South Dakota Department of Corrections has two main divisions –adult corrections and juvenile corrections. As of December 2016, the adult corrections system has a total population of 3,822. Meanwhile the juvenile corrections system is taking care of a total of 315 youth. The adult corrections system comprises of three main adult facilities, four community work centers for minimum-security inmates, a prison annex and parolees in the Community Transition Program, Prison Industries and Parole. The juvenile corrections system, on the other hand, provides in-state and out-of-state care for youth with specific needs. It also provides juvenile aftercare services and contractual foster care. read more

Can a Felon Vote in South Carolina?

South Carolina used to be merged with North Carolina as a single colony named after King Charles I until a separation in 1710. South Carolina is among the original 13 colonies and was the 8th state to join the union on May 23, 1788. Its current capital is Columbia and has a total population estimate of 4,961,119 as of July 2016 based from the US Census Bureau.

According to the US Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, South Carolina had a total of 20,929 inmates under jurisdiction of correctional authorities. This population was composed of 19,574 males and 1,355 females. A -2.2% change has been observed with it compared to data from 2014. read more

Can a Felon Vote in Rhode Island?

Despite being the smallest among the US states, at only about 48 miles long and 37 miles wide, the Rhode Island (RI) proved that size did not matter to achieving progress as it became the first of the original 13 colonies to claim independence from England on May 4, 1776. It has been governed under Royal Charter for 180 years as passed by King Charles II since 1663. Rhode Island was also the last state among the original 13 colonies to have the US Constitution ratified on May 29, 1970. Rhode’s current capital is Providence and as of July 2016 records 1,056,426 total estimated populations according to the US Census Bureau. read more

Can a Felon Vote in Pennsylvania?

The founding of Pennsylvania goes way back to 1681 when King Charles II signed the Charter of Pennsylvania, a gesture to repay the King’s debt to Admiral Sir William Penn. With intentions to provide refuge for his fellow Quakers, Admiral Sir Penn’s son, William Penn, requested the King to grant him a land area between the then province of Maryland and province of New York. With its date of statehood on December 12, 1787, Pennsylvania became the ninth member of the original 13 colonies. Its capital is Harrisburg and has a total estimated population of 12,784,227 people as of July 2016 according to the United States Census Bureau. read more

Can a Felon Vote in Oregon?

Present-day Oregon is part of the Oregon Territory which used to be claimed by different powers aside from the US including Great Britain, Spain, and Russia. The Oregon territory extended from the Pacific coast to the Rocky Mountains which also covered Washington and most of British Columbia. Oregon boundary disputes persisted until June 18, 1846 when the senate finally signed a treaty between the US and Great Britain. Oregon later entered the Union on February 14, 1859 and presently has approximately 4 million total populations. read more

Can a Felon Vote in Oklahoma?

Founded on November 6, 1907, Oklahoma became the official 46th state of America. Oklahoma was the result when Oklahoma and Indian Territory combined. The state has 3,923,561 citizens as of 2016.

The prison population in Oklahoma was 28,547 both male and female. As stated in NIC Oklahoma, the crime rate in the state is about 17% higher than the national average rate. Above 80% of these offenders convicted a property crime.

Democracy only fully takes effect once its people are given the integral right and role to vote. The people’s voice is the basis and foundation of governance in a nation which is only manifested during political elections. read more

Can a Felon Vote in Ohio?

Ohio was once occupied by French colonists before it became an official State on March 1, 1803. The state compromises lake regions and was named after one. Ohio holds a total population of 11,614,373 in 2016 and is currently the 7th state with the largest population in the US.

As of 2015, it was confirmed that the total population of inmates in Ohio was 52 333. The number of offenders in the state increased to 15.1% from the year 2005 up to 2016. Meanwhile, in 2009, it was discovered that more than 80% of the offenders were male. read more

Can a Felon Vote in North Dakota?

North Dakota is geographically found on the upper mid-part of the US with a population of 757,952 as of 2016. Ancient European explorers assumed that it was part of Minnesota, Canada but it proved to be under the borders of the USA. North Dakota became an official state in 1889.

In 2015, a total of 1,795, both male and female inmates, were collected in North Dakota. Although it was not elaborated what percent is a male or a female, it was clearly stated that 97% percent of those sentenced to life imprisonment were male and only 3% were female. read more

Can a Felon Vote in North Carolina?

Located in the southern part of the United States, North Carolina is a state founded by Virginia Colonists in 1653. North Carolina ranks as the 9th state with the largest population in the country. The state holds a total population of 9,535,483 last 2016.

As of 2011, the number of convicts in North Carolina was 39 678. About 93% percent of these were male and only 7% were female. These prisoners varied in race of which 57% were black, 35% were white and the remaining 8% were from other races.

Democracy is a customary political system, which retains all human rights and the freedom of its people. A democratic government gives equal opportunities, including the right to vote. An eligible voter may be limited in age, but never in status because every citizen has a rightful privilege to choose a leader. read more

Can a Felon Vote in New York?

New York City, previously named New Amsterdam, was found in 1624 as a trading post by the Dutch Republic. It was then renamed New York when the city became under English control in 1664. It finally became a state on July 26, 1788.

New York is the third most crowded people in US with a population of 19,745,289. The average prison population has reached 530 out of 100,000 of the adult population in New York. This means that 0.53% of the population is felons.

New Yorkers are known for their opinions and voting is like freedom to express opinions of the current governance and how they want the future government to be. read more

Can a Felon Vote in New Mexico?

New Mexico was first colonized by the Spanish in 1598 before it was established as the 47th state on January 6, 1912. This is the main reason why this city has the highest population of Hispanics. The state has a current population of 2,081,015.

The average prison population has reached 980 out of 100,000 of the adult population in New Mexico. This means that 0.98% of the population is felons. Most of the inmates are male and Hispanic.

Voting is a human right that should not be taken from a person. However, prison is intended to be a punishment for people who do not abide by the law. Hence, part of their rights is being taken as part of their punishment to their wrong doings. read more

Can a Felon Vote in New Jersey?

New Jersey, which is the 47th biggest in the US, was established as a state on December 18, 1787. The current population as of the latest census is 8944469.

The average prison population has reached 540 out of 100,000 of the adult population in New Jersey. This means that 0.54% of the population is felons. Most of the inmates are male and black Americans.

Right to vote is a reassurance of a democratic country which leads to a stronger nation. It is the freedom to unite what is commonly decided by the people on how they want the government to be. read more

Can a Felon Vote in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire was founded in 1629 but it was established as a state on June 21, 1788. The current population as of the latest census is 1,334,795.

The average prison population has reached 460 out of 100,000 of the adult population in New Hampshire. This means that 0.46% of the population is felons. Higher counts of these felons are men.

Voting is important as it is like the freedom to choose your future. Voting is the way of most people to express their view of the government. The voting rights give people the opportunity to choose what they prefer and change what they don’t like in the current government. The citizen’s opinion does matter and this is what voting rights practices. read more

Can a Felon Vote in Nevada?

Nevada was the 36th territory to have joined the United States of America. It’s capital population was 55,274 by the end of the year 2016.

Nevada’s prison population in 2016 was 13,994 inmates. 90.94% (12,726 inmates) of Montana’s inmate population were male while the remaining 9.06% (1,268 inmates) were female. This inmate population makes up 25.3% of the state’s capital population.

Voting is the soul of a democracy. It is a fundamental and constitutional right on which our civil independence originate. Without the people’s votes, a government can never be democratic but a dictatorship. read more

Can a Felon Vote in Nebraska?

Nebraska was the 37th territory to have joined the United States of America. It’s capital population was 258,379 by the end of the year 2016.

In 2016, Nebraska had a prison population of 5,188 inmates. In this number, there were 4,734 male inmates and 454 female inmates. The inmate population make up 2% of the state’s capital population.

In a true democracy, the majority rule rather than the total concurrence is the basic principle. This does not mean that the minorities, such as the felons, are exempted from mutual respect. A real democracy defends and maintain the rights of all, especially the minorities. read more

Can a Felon Vote in Montana?

The State of Montana was the 41st territory to have joined the United States of America. Montana’s capital population was 28,190 by the end of the year 2016.

In June 2016, Montana has enlisted a prison population of 2,580 inmates and 1,500 of which are males and the remaining number are females. This inmate population make up 9% of the state’s capital population.

The inclusion of the public in free and fair elections is one of the main characteristics of a democracy. Through the right to vote, the people gets to voice out who their leaders are and how their government will run their country. Preserving a person’s right of suffrage is a democratic government’s utmost priority. read more

Can a Felon Vote in Missouri?

The State of Missouri was the 24th territory to be a part of the United States of America. It’s capital’s population was 43,079 by the end of 2015.

Missouri’s inmate population by December 2015 was 32,330. 29,063 of these prisoners were male and the remaining 3,367 were female prisoners. This number made 75% of Missouri’s Capital Population.

The right to vote is a person’s voice in a democratic government. It is a citizen’s contribution to his country’s formation and operations. Through voting, a citizen participates in the making of his state and his country’s history. read more

Can a Felon Vote in Mississippi?

Mississippi, also called The Magnolia State, is one of the 50 US states. It is home to 2.9 million Americans.

Currently, the state of Mississippi houses 28,800 inmates, which represents 1,270 out of every 100,000 individuals in the state. 94% of the prisoners are men, while 6% are women.

Prisoners are still people. If they have already paid for what they have done, they deserve a second chance. Therefore, they should be given the right to vote to give them the opportunity to become successful and peace-loving individuals. read more

Can a Felon Vote in Minnesota?

Minnesota is a northern US state that borders both Lake Superior and Canada. It is home to 5.5 million people.

Currently, the state houses 10,100 adult inmates. 95% of those inmates are male, while the remaining 5% are female. Correction facilities in Minnesota are managed by a total of 4,300 staff members.

Prohibiting prisoners from practicing their right to vote is considered as an ethical violation. Arguments suggesting that people in prisoners are not supposed to vote can be seen as an act against the ultimate goal of making them responsible citizens. read more

Can a Felon Vote in Michigan?

The state of Michigan is the tenth most populated US state, serving as the home of 9.9 million people. It is a northern state bordered by the four Great Lakes.

The state of Michigan currently has 60,200 inmates. This represents approximately 790 in every 100,000 people in the state. About 93.3% of the current inmates are male, while 6.7% are female.

Voting is a civil right guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States given to all Americans regardless of their status. This is why the right to vote should not be withheld from people even if they are incarcerated. read more

Can a Felon Vote in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts is one of the 50 US states. It is also one of the original 13 British colonies that formed the United States of America.

The state of Massachusetts currently has 17 correctional facilities where an average of 10,000 inmates live. 93% of the total inmates are male, while the rest are female.

Inmates are still a part of the US population. Therefore, it is unfair to deprive them of their basic rights, including their right to vote.

Can Felons Vote in Massachusetts?

In Massachusetts, prisoners are not given the right to vote until after they are released from prison. As long as they are incarcerated, they are not allowed to vote. read more

Can a Felon Vote in Maryland?

Maryland is bordered by Delaware, West Virginia, Washington D.C., Pennsylvania and Virginia. It is also called as “Free State”, “Old Line State”. “Little America” and “America in Miniature”. Its capital is Annapolis but its largest city is Baltimore.

The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services has over 12,000 employees in-charge of 27 correctional institutions. It has six (6) departments which include the Division of Correction, Division of Capital Construction and Facilities Maintenance, Division of Parole and Probation, Division of Pretrial Detention and Services, Police and Correctional Training Commissions and Emergency Number Systems Board. read more

Can a Felon Vote in Maine?

Maine is the northernmost state of the country. It is the 41st most populous state of the United States with a population of almost 1.4 million people. Its capital is Augusta. However, most people know of Portland more due to its big population.

The Maine Department of Corrections has four departments namely Adult Community Corrections, Adult Facilities, Prison Industries and Juvenile Services.

Felon Disenfranchisement is a rising problem in the United States. Most advocates of felon enfranchisement point out that it is an excessive sanction which is against the Eight Amendment. Convicts in Maine are lucky enough to not experience such. read more

Can a Felon Vote in Louisiana?

Louisiana is found in the southern region of the United States. It is the 25th most populous state. Its capital is Baton Rouge but its largest city is New Orleans. The most notable thing about Louisiana is that it is the only state in the United States divided into political subdivisions called parishes. Parishes are the equivalent of counties in other states.

The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections is comprised of three departments namely the Office of Juvenile Justice, Public Safety Services and Corrections Services. As of date, there are around 36,000 offenders serving their sentence in Louisiana. However, not only 36,000 are serving their sentence in the state correctional facilities. The facility of the state can only house around 19,000. Hence the rest of the offenders are housed in private or parish facilities. read more

Can a Felon Vote in Kentucky?

Officially called as the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the state of Kentucky is at the southeastern region of the United States of America. Kentucky is one of the only four states established as a Commonwealth, along with Pennsylvania, Virginia and Massachusetts.

As of 2015, there were 11,003 male offenders in the Kentucky Department of Corrections while there were 890 female offenders. The Kentucky Department of Corrections has 10 departments namely; Commissioner’s Office, Office of Adult Institutions, Support Services, Division of Corrections Training, Local Facilities (Jails), Internal Affairs, Parole Board, Adult Institutions (Prisons), Probation and Parole and Correctional Industries. read more

Can a Felon Vote in Kansas?

Kansas became the 34th state of the United States of America on January 29, 1861. Its declaration into statehood was shrouded with violence as it became a battleground for most of its first 100 years of existence.

Currently, Kansas has 328 prisoners for every 100,000 residents, which is 17% lower than the national average of 395 per 100,000 residents. However, it is still 9000 prisoners too many than the state-standard in prison population density.

It is true that incarceration takes several civil liberties of an individual, but the capacity to vote is as much an obligation as it is a right. It shows an individual’s patriotism and care for the welfare of his nation. read more

Can a Felon Vote in Iowa?

The United States of American admitted the Iowa as its 29th state on December 28, 1846, with Des Moines as its capital. Its name was derived from the Iowa Native American who once inhabited the land.

As of the latest update on prison statistics of the Department of Correction of Iowa, there are 38,772 law offenders. It is approximately 1.25% of Iowa’s population, composed of 8290 incarcerated in institutions and 30,482 serving community based corrections.

The right to suffrage is considered as one of the most important basic civil right because it enables a person to choose a leader to represent his ideals. Denying this right is an infringement of a person’s liberty. read more

Can a Felon Vote in Indiana?

Indiana, which means “the land of the Indians”, had been a conflicted region after the American Revolution. Five years after, in 1816, Indiana became the 19th states, with Indianapolis as its capital.

Indiana has a rate of incarceration at 751 for every 100,000 residents, which is higher than the national average of 716 for every 100,000. It currently sits at the 18th highest incarceration rates in the United States.

The right to suffrage must be maintained as a fundamental right of felons. In fact, the US Voting Rights Act of 1965 does not contain any provisions on disenfranchisement as a legal sanction. read more