What do you think of this afternoon’s Most Fascinating Story?
The Virginia Supreme Court today struck down Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s move to restore voting rights for 200,000 convicted felons. The 4-3 ruling came a month after Republicans in the state sued Mr. McAuliffe, saying that he overstepped his authority in issuing the executive action. “The unprecedented scope, magnitude, and categorical nature of Gov. McAuliffe’s Executive Order” exceeded his authority, wrote Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons in the decision. – www.thehill.com
Gov. McAuliffe is a longtime intimate of the Clintons, comfortable living on the edge. Hardly anyone doubted that Mr. McAuliffe’s single motivation last April was to guarantee 206,000 sweat-free votes for Hillary on Nov. 8.
These two extractions from the ruling may illumine the Court’s conclusion:
- “Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution of Virginia sets out a general rule of law and then provides for an exception: “No person who has been convicted of a felony shall be qualified to vote unless his civil rights have been restored by the Governor or other appropriate authority.”
- “Never before have any of the prior 71 Virginia Governors issued a clemency order of any kind — including pardons, reprieves, commutations, and restoration orders — to a class of unnamed felons without regard
for the nature of the crimes or any other individual circumstances relevant to the request.”
Should ex-cons be allowed to vote?
Why? Why not?
Two of the smallest, most incidental states – Bernie Sanders’ Vermont and whose (?) Maine – offer the wildest voting laws: Criminals may vote from prison.
California is one of four states that permits felons to vote after completing both their prison and parole terms.
Two more footnotes.
Some states punish those who commit misdemeanors. Those fellows perhaps should move to Maine or Vermont.
“Anyone convicted of a misdemeanor in Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, South Carolina, and South Dakota may not vote while incarcerated. Kentucky and Missouri additionally require an executive pardon before allowing people convicted of certain misdemeanors (‘high misdemeanors’ in Kentucky) and ‘elections-related misdemeanors’ in Missouri) from ever voting again. In Iowa, only people convicted of an ‘aggravated’ misdemeanor cannot vote while incarcerated. “
Speaking of liberal laws:
“In West Virginia only people convicted of certain elections-related misdemeanors cannot vote while incarcerated — all others may vote by absentee ballot.”