Disenfranchising Ex-prisoners and Felons Violates the 15th Amendment

48 states in America prevent or impair felons and ex-felons from their right to vote as guaranteed by the 15th amendment of the United States Constitution. We are talking about hundreds of thousand of individuals who cannot vote That amendment states:

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

While, the 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870; a direct legacy of the Radical Republicans (my favorite American political party), was primarily intended to prevent blacks from voting, the language is clear. When the language is unambiguous, then legislative intent is irrelevant. The only question is, does an ex-felon or felon qualify as having previously been in a condition of previous servitude .

Posted on 10th September at 4:15 pm

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