I can understand denying prisoners the right to vote, since they are not citizens in good standing.
But I have never understood the policy, in many states, of preventing ex-prisoners from voting. From a utilitarian point of view, allowing them to vote helps re-integrate them into society. From a deontological perspective, they are governed and thus have a right to offer their consent to how they are governed.
The policy seems motivated only by juvenile revenge and political grandstanding.
So, via Matt Yglesias, it is a bit of good news that Washington State is ending their policy of preventing ex-prisoners from voting.
This is more evidence that Democrats are no longer afraid of being seen as “soft on crime”.
Tags: ex-prisoners voting in Washington State, prisoner’s voting rights
