Whether Or Not Prisoners Should Be Allowed To Vote (Essay Sample)

Student’s Name
Professor’s Name
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Right to Vote for Prisoners
In the contemporary society, lobby groups and individuals have been on the forefront in promoting equity and fairness among different groups in the society. They have often advocated for the government to ensure well presentation of each person. Taking the United States as a good example, the ethos of all men are equal underpins the argument. One of the most controversial issues of equity and inclusive governance is the voting rights. The high number of convicted individuals who have been denied the rights to vote has fuelled the debate. According to the 2010 data, about 5.8 million legible voters in America were denied a chance to participate in the voting exercise for the country (Ramsay 170-75). The essay, however, proposes that people who are in the voting bracket should be given an opportunity to exercise their democratic right. Therefore, the article will focus on proponent for the right to vote for prisoners using the United States as the premise for the argument.
One of the key reason for advocating for prisoner’s voting right is that they get a chance to represent their needs and views. It is through the exercise that issues like abuse and overcrowding in prisons can be greatly discussed in the political platform. Denying these people a chance means that the general public which has little knowledge about the challenges faced by prisoners are the ones making a decision on their behalf (Foster 110). It is thus appropriate that inmates who have a direct encounter with the hurdles play a significant role in ensuring that their grievances are well addressed by the leaders they will elect. They will thus get a chance to influence the environment, education, and healthcare issues that are important for the general population across the globe.
The rehabilitation process for the prisoners will also be affected through promoting voting exercise. Rehabilitating an individual is a paramount element that ensures that such person doesn't repeat the wrongdoing acts. The act of denying people a chance implies that their treatment as sub-human. The implication of this would be the damaging of their sense of self-worth and dignity (Lazarus 200). Therefore, by encouraging voting, these persons will be invited to participate in the current affairs...