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4/7/2008
Talk About It, Talk About It
Hello everyone,
This is Natalie Hobbs your volunteer coordinator. Please join the campaign!
As everyone knows the country is in a race to find the next presidents. At the moment we have three candidates that are
pouring their hearts and souls into every debate and discussion. It doesn't matter which candidate you are for, all three
candidates want to bring some sort of change to this country. It doesn't matter what channel you flip to on the television,
the chances are that any viewer can catch some sort of debate or conversation including Clinton, Obama, or McCain in some
shape or form. Of all the debates that are going on right now it truly disappoints me that no one is covering the topic of
how convicted felons are not able to vote! Of course this issue does not effect everyone so why would a presidential candidate
talk about this issue? But, I don't see how hundreds of thousands of people being disenfranchised is not a Major problem.
This disenfranchisement seriously restricts the voter population, and in the country that is known for it's democracy
it is sick and wrong not to let so many people vote. Within this injustice there is another problem... No one is willing
to take a stand and talk about this.
Think about it... How many politicians have you heard talk about
this particular controversial issue over the years? Has anyone ever tried to look up what a politician has said about re-enfranchising
convicted felons? It takes hours of searching to find a single quote, and when you find a quote a politician has said on this
issue it is usually dated. How are we to find a resolution to this problem if no one of importance is willing to confront
it? And, while this topic goes unnoticed thousands of people around the country suffer as they watch the presidential debates
go on and know that they won't have a say in this historic race.
For all of you who are not convicted felons
the problem is that there are so many jumps and hoops to go through to establish voting rights after being convicted of a
felony. In the state of Washington, and other states around the U.S there are three main things an individual must do to re-establish
voting rights. 1). pay all fines. 2) no longer be on any sort of parole. 3) all restraining and no trespassing orders must
be expired. Two out of those three things just take time to expire, but it's ridiculous not to let people vote because
of a restraining order. Or what if someone has parole for 15 years? These people are let out of jail/prison and are expected
to be a normal citizen. If they have to do all the things a normal citizen does why do we treat them as less than human and
take away their right to vote? Paying off the fines that a state charges is a story within it's self. The fines are huge,
an ex-felon has to pay interest on top of the fine for every year it is not paid, and it is extremely difficult to get a job
if one has a felony on their record. All these things take YEARS to complete.
As a minor it kills me slowly to
know that I will not be old enough to vote in this up coming presidential election. I can only imagine the pain and suffering
of the ex-felons across America who have changed there ways, became a good citizen to their community, are paying off their
fines along with their bills, and still cannot vote. For all the people out there who cannot vote in this election and want
too, my deepest sympathies. This campaign will do all it can to change the laws of almost all the states so that everyone
who wants to vote will be able to vote.
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