this post was submitted on 13 Sep 2023
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[–] obinice@lemmy.world 87 points 1 year ago (10 children)

Treating people as sub-human - no longer with the same basic human rights, like the right to vote, as others - just for committing a crime, is an extremely dangerous fascist road to go down.

Criminals exist, they are people, and they have as much right to take part in the democratic process as anybody else. Equality is the cornerstone of democracy.

[–] GreatGrapeApe@reddthat.com 16 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The only exception I would make to this is cases of electoral fraud. If you are part of an attempt to manipulate the votes you should lose the right to vote.

[–] DarthBueller@lemmy.world 17 points 1 year ago

Some countries other than the USA that have criminal disenfranchisement laws have them ONLY for crimes targeting the state/democratic order. As of 2012, Germany, Norway and Portugal are doing this. Though most countries just let their criminals vote.

[–] Rai@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

criminals exist

hallo

[–] DarthBueller@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

I agree with you. Did you know that criminal disenfranchisement is not an invention of the USA? We turned it into an artform, to be sure, but it has a long history and is still a thing in many other countries (old article, couldn't find anything more recent easily).

[–] kaba0@programming.dev 2 points 1 year ago

I mean, criminals caught and put into jail by definition have less rights than someone free to walk anywhere.. though your actual point is taken.

[–] verity_kindle@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

By the way, no one here is arguing that criminals aren't people.

[–] stringere@reddthat.com 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)
[–] verity_kindle@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Pffh, we have no time to discuss mythology! We're here to save the world!

[–] jarfil@lemmy.world -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

[...] basic human rights, like the right to vote [...]

Equality is the cornerstone of democracy.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 21.3:

The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

Now explain "first past the post", gerrymandering, or the D'Hondt method.