Felons who have done their time can Now Vote in Arkansas

From the pages of the Constitution of Arkansas

d)(1) It shall be the duty of the circuit clerk of each county upon the conviction of any person of a felony to notify promptly the permanent registrar of the county of residence of such convicted felon.

(2)(A) It is the duty of any convicted felon who desires to register to vote to provide the county clerk with proof from the appropriate state or local agency, or office that the felon has been discharged from probation or parole, has paid all probation or parole fees, or has satisfied all terms of imprisonment, and paid all applicable court costs, fines, or restitution.

(B) Proof that the felon has been discharged from probation or parole, paid all probation or parole fees, or satisfied all terms of imprisonment, and paid all applicable court costs, fines, or restitution shall be provided to the felon after completion of the probation, parole, or sentence by the Department of Correction, the Department of Community Correction, the appropriate probation office or the circuit clerk as applicable.

(C) The circuit clerk, or any other entity responsible for collection, shall provide proof to the Department of Correction, the Department of Community Correction, or the appropriate probation office that the felon has paid all applicable court costs, fines, or restitution.

(D) Upon compliance with subdivision (d)(2)(A) of this section, the felon shall be deemed eligible to vote.

I have no problem with that, whatsoever. You do the crime, you do the time and it's over with. HOWEVER....

I don't agree this should be the case for all felons. Those that are convicted of violent crimes such as murder, rape, molestation, armed robbery, etc..should never get their rights to own a firearm or vote back. NEVER. But those that have perhaps one non-violent felony (such as theft, dui, whatever) on their record from something that might have occurred when they were 18 and fresh out of high school, I don't feel that should be held against them. Perhaps give them 3-years probation, don't allow them to own a firearm or vote for say, 10-years. After that, they get their rights back.

But of course, that's just my opinion...

With the criminal justice system today, felons who walk with God have less rights than the criminally unprosecuted that are leading us. Why should a Governor avoid being convicted of a felony for knowingly aiding and abetting and giving comfort to Illegals ? Then someone with little means and dirt poor does a crime and gets convicted. I believe that a sin is a sin. Forgiveness is Gods and the peoples rights are given by God and should never be taken by man when someone has paid their dues to society.
As a Candidate for State Representative in Arkansas I would rather associate with rehabilitated felons than a Governor who keeps giving our tax dollars to illegals. A Felony.

what all of you fail to see is that ALOT of people end up a "felon" b/c of a plea deal for various and personal reasons.

JRT - I understand what you're saying, but I don't agree.

Any time a person is charged with a misdemeanor, they can't be offered a plea deal where they plea guilty to a felony. Perhaps that wasn't what you were inferring but that's what I took from it.

And regardless of if a person is found guilty of a felony by a jury of his peers or he pleas guilty without a trial, the bottom line is, the person is now a convicted felon. One should never admit to committing a crime if they didn't do it - plain and simple. Let the justice system work itself out. If there isn't sufficient evidence to prove they are guilty, they will walk away. Plain and simple.

Most politicians I feel are deep down just criminals. So, why not allow convicted felons of non-violent crimes a chance to voice their opinion and maybe level out the playing field! If they have done their time and all the probation/parole with no violations and so on and so forth (paid their debt to society).... I say yes.... let them vote!

You're right in a way with your reply, but still a little off base. Knowing first hand what law enforcement officials can and will do, there are plenty of times people plead out to charges they didn't commit because of ineffective lawyers and unsavory law enforcement officials who will stop at nothing to inflate arrest and conviction rates. Add to the fact that in the last 2 years alone, there were over 12,000 people released from prisons who were convicted of crimes that evidence now show's was no way on earth they could have committed, but almost 15% of those 12000 had been incarcerated for at least 20 years. Now I know justice is supposed to be sure, but would'nt you take a plea deal for no time and a lil paper over doing 20 years locked up in a prison cage somewhere?