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From NBC News
Mississippi suit to cover all who lost voting rights, judge says
JACKSON, Miss. — A federal judge says a handful of former Mississippi convicts who are suing to have their voting rights restored can represent everyone who falls into that category.
The ruling this week by U.S. District Judge Daniel Jordan certifying the lawsuit as a class action raises the stakes considerably. A victory by the plaintiffs could restore voting rights to tens of thousands of Mississippians, not just the handful who sued.
Jordan ruled that the plaintiffs had met the legal tests for a class action, despite arguments by lawyers for the state that a class-action was unnecessary. Jordan said he might decide later whether the class should only include people who have completed all the terms of their sentence, including payment of fines and restitution, or whether to set different limits.
COMMENT:-
An interesting case. Should someone who has been convicted of "tree stealing" when they were 20 continue to be deprived of their vote when they are 70? You tell me what you think because I don't agree with stripping the franchise from anyone for any reason (although I could be convinced if the conviction were for treason).
After all, if someone with an IQ of 60, who has never read a newspaper in their entire life, and has never left the town of 200 that they were born in, and doesn't watch TV, and always "votes the straight __[fill in the blank]__ ticket (because "That's what my Pappy told me to do.") is entitled to a vote, what logical reason would there be to deny anyone the right to a vote?
Mississippi suit to cover all who lost voting rights, judge says
JACKSON, Miss. — A federal judge says a handful of former Mississippi convicts who are suing to have their voting rights restored can represent everyone who falls into that category.
The ruling this week by U.S. District Judge Daniel Jordan certifying the lawsuit as a class action raises the stakes considerably. A victory by the plaintiffs could restore voting rights to tens of thousands of Mississippians, not just the handful who sued.
Jordan ruled that the plaintiffs had met the legal tests for a class action, despite arguments by lawyers for the state that a class-action was unnecessary. Jordan said he might decide later whether the class should only include people who have completed all the terms of their sentence, including payment of fines and restitution, or whether to set different limits.
COMMENT:-
An interesting case. Should someone who has been convicted of "tree stealing" when they were 20 continue to be deprived of their vote when they are 70? You tell me what you think because I don't agree with stripping the franchise from anyone for any reason (although I could be convinced if the conviction were for treason).
After all, if someone with an IQ of 60, who has never read a newspaper in their entire life, and has never left the town of 200 that they were born in, and doesn't watch TV, and always "votes the straight __[fill in the blank]__ ticket (because "That's what my Pappy told me to do.") is entitled to a vote, what logical reason would there be to deny anyone the right to a vote?