2020 Election

Bernie Sanders Proposes Giving All Prisoners Voting Rights, Stirs Debate [VIDEO]

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) strongly suggested in a CNN town hall last week that he is open to restoring voting rights to convicted felons.

“I think the right to vote is inherent to our democracy,” Sanders said at the event. “Yes, even for terrible people.”

The 77-year-old 2020 Democratic presidential candidate’s comment appeared intended to appeal to criminal justice activists and people of color, who are often disproportionately incarcerated. In a tweet, Sanders also cited several countries who allow prisoners to participate in elections.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of political news in your in-box.
We find the news you need to know, so you don't have to.

Sanders’ response to a question about the issue also stood out because several other 2020 Democratic presidential contenders — like Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) and Kamala Harris (D-California), as well as South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg — stated that they were opposed to restoring voting rights to all convicted felons across the board.

The issue surrounding voting rights for incarcerated Americans has not yet become one of the top issues for the 2020 election, although it could be. Florida is one state that has pushed to restore this right for felons via a ballot initiative, although several top Republican officials in the state have reportedly tried to thwart this effort.

SLIDESHOW: TOP DEMOCRATS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN 2020

Given the 20 Democrats running for president, the issue could become one that distinguishes the many contenders from each other.

Other 2020 Democratic candidates, like former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) and former Housing Secretary Julian Castrohinted recently that they would consider letting nonviolent offenders — like drug users incarcerated for lengthy sentences — vote while in prison.

Sanders said he is aware his stance regarding felons and voting rights could make him a target of attacks from conservatives. Fox News and far-right-wing news website Breitbart rapidly commented on the senator’s position on the subject, with the latter outlet calling it “insane.”

Trump mocked Sanders’ remarks in a speech before members of the National Rifle Association.

“Let the Boston bomber vote — he should be voting, right?” Trump stated in the speech, referencing one of the two men who was responsible for the terror attacks in the Boston Marathon in 2013. “I don’t think so. Let terrorists that are in prison vote, I don’t think so. Can you believe it? But this is where some of these people are coming from.”

Two states, Maine and Vermont, currently do not revoke felons’ voting rights and let them cast ballots from behind bars.

 

Pablo Mena

Writer for upolitics.com. NY Giants and Rangers fan. Film and TV enthusiast (especially Harry Potter and The Office) and lover of foreign languages and cultures.

Share
Published by
Pablo Mena

Recent Posts

GOP House Conservative Holdouts Stall Trump’s ‘Beautiful’ Budget Bill

Following Vice President JD Vance's tie-breaking vote in the Senate, President Donald Trump's "Big, Beautiful…

1 hour ago

Trump Threatens To Arrest NYC Democratic Mayoral Nominee Zohran Mamdani, Says ‘A Lot Of People Say He’s Here Illegally’

President Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani since…

6 hours ago

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem Took $80,000 In Political Donations, Report Alleges

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem allegedly took $80,000 in political donations while serving as…

10 hours ago

Trump Made $57M On Merchandise, Including $1M For Autographed Trump Guitars, New Disclosures Reveal

According to financial documents released in early June, President Donald Trump has profited immensely from…

10 hours ago

Trump Administration To Slash Funding For ATF & Ease Gun Regulations

The Trump Administration plans to ease gun regulations by restructuring the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,…

10 hours ago

Senate Passes Trump’s ‘Beautiful’ Mega-Budget Bill By Vote Of 51-50 With J.D. Vance Breaking Tie

The U.S. Senate approved President Donald Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” by a vote of 51-50,…

1 day ago