Ethics of Disenfranchisement and Voting Rights in the U.S.:Convicted Felons, the Homeless, and Immigrants

This paper examines the contemporary ethical issues surrounding voting rights of three disenfranchised groups in the U.S.: convicted felons, the homeless, and immigrants. Even in modern countries like the U.S., voting and other forms of political participation are skewed toward the elite, those with...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Ruth, Terrance (Author)
Contributors: Matusitz, Jonathan ; Simi, Demi
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2017
In: American journal of criminal justice
Year: 2017, Volume: 42, Issue: 1, Pages: 56-68
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Keywords:
Voting Rights
United States
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Immigrants
Homeless
General will
Felons
Distributive Justice
Disenfranchisement
Description
Summary:This paper examines the contemporary ethical issues surrounding voting rights of three disenfranchised groups in the U.S.: convicted felons, the homeless, and immigrants. Even in modern countries like the U.S., voting and other forms of political participation are skewed toward the elite, those with higher incomes, those who are employed, and those with more education. Low voter turnout presents serious challenges to democratic responsiveness, or the ability of leaders to respond to the needs and demands of citizens. Hence, voting should be encouraged in accord with the common interest. An important conclusion is that allowing all citizens – irrespective of their status – to vote would give them a voice in the context of governance. This notion is also associated with distributive justice, a philosophical concept that concentrates on just outcomes and consequences.
ISSN:1936-1351
DOI:10.1007/s12103-016-9346-6