Andrew Yang Policy on RESTORATION OF VOTING RIGHTS

[Sherman A1]

There are around 3m Americans in various States who have paid their debt to society and are no longer incarcerated, on parole, or on probation, yet are denied the right to cast their vote in an election. State laws vary wildly as far as re-enfranchisement is concerned, with some never disenfranchising felons, and others permanently disenfranchising them. This patchwork of state laws is inherently unfair, as citizens are treated differently depending on their location.

America’s criminal justice system should be built around the idea of rehabilitation whenever possible. We should be working with anyone who has completed their prison term and any post-incarceration parole or probation to help them reintegrate into society.

By restoring full voting rights to ex-felons who have completed the entirety of their sentence, we’ll increase their engagement with society. This will improve their lives drastically, for obvious reasons. It will also make the rest of us safer, as some studies have shown that ex-felons who vote are half as likely to reoffend. By giving these individuals a larger stake in society, we make our entire country stronger.

"If you’ve paid your debt to society, you ought to be able to vote. This is particularly true given the hodgepodge of different treatment in different states. Voters are less likely to reoffend, which is only one reason we should be pushing for it."

https://www.yang2020.com/policies/restore-voting-rights/

[WeekiWater]

1. He has a lot of good ideas in this area and they all center around ending mass incarceration...

and lowering the rate of recidivism. Successfully reintegrating people into society and giving them a fighting chance. Giving them the tools to succeed. We have to go from our overall punitive system to a rehabilitative one. It's a national mindset that must change.

REDUCE MASS INCARCERATION

America imprisons a HIGHER PERCENTAGE of its citizens than almost any other country in the world, and MINORITIES ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY REPRESENTED in this group. Incarceration doesn’t just set someone back for the time they’re imprisoned; with our current felony laws, they follow someone throughout their life.

Mandatory minimum laws, the war on drugs, and other misguided policy decisions over the years passed by politicians with an eye towards being “tough on crime” have resulted in a glut of Americans behind bars. Instead of focusing on what sounds or feels good, we should focus on results. While individuals should be punished for committing crimes, the end goal should be to prevent people from committing crimes, and to lower recidivism rates for those who are convicted.

Outside of my social policies such as Universal Basic Income, which will eliminate poverty and thus reduce one common driver of crime, there are many things we can do to ensure the safety of Americans by preventing people from becoming criminals.

Review the current mandatory minimum laws to bring them in line with what data shows us is effective
Shift federal drug policy away from punishment and towards treatment
End the use of for-profit, private prisons
Fund programs targeted at reducing recidivism and increasing reintegration
Push for a reconsideration of the harshness of our felony laws, including an investigation into any civil rights issues raised by the disproportionate amount of minorities convicted of these crimes

Yang2020

K&R

[crazytown]

2. So President Yang would pass Federal Legislation

to regulate States treatment of voting rights for ex felons?

Ofcourse not. What he Does Say is this.

“Support state efforts to pass legislation restoring voting rights to individuals convicted of felonies who are currently denied their right to vote. Encourage states to minimize the list of felonies that result in an automatic loss of voting rights.”

And that’s a nothingburger. I’m sure GOP States will be all ears.

Yang has some good policy ideas, but this isn’t one of them.

[Sherman A1]

3. Well

If I may ask, what is Warren's stated policy on this issue?

[crazytown]

4. Deflection

You posted Andrew’s policy on this. I am giving my personal opinion about it. Overall, I prefer Warren’s policy portfolio to Yang’s.

[Sherman A1]

5. I disagree that I was attempting deflection

but, it appears that you are either not interested in a discussion or comparison of policies or simply do not have an answer which comes up looking like deflection on your part.

I don't believe that any of the candidates have a corner on every good idea, they all bring something to the table and hopefully we can discuss the policy differences in forums such as this.

You indicate that you prefer Warren's policy portfolio over Yang's that is a reasonable thing, perhaps you would like to share what particular points you believe to be superior within that portfolio?

[crazytown]

6. Let's try just one:-

The Accountable Capitalism Act

Legislation that would require giant Corporations (assets over $1 Billion) to have regard, as a matter of law, to the interests of their employees, their customers, and their their communities, - on an equal legal basis as their fiduciary duty to shareholders. And in addition, to adopt the German model of mandatory employee representation on the Corporation’s board.

[Sherman A1]

9. This is a very good idea

and I believe to be a sound policy position.

[crazytown]

10. As I have heard Elizabeth explain it

It’s what companies used to do without thinking, but as pension funds, hedge funds and private equity players gained dominance, management focussed entirely on the outlook for their quarterly reports.

[Sherman A1]

13. I do believe some companies did try to do the right thing

as to the reasoning behind their changes into the quarterly report outlook I am sure that those listed along with others are behind it. That said in the end it really doesn't matter what the reasons were, it matters as to what will happen going forward.

[crazytown]

7. Elizabeth Warren on Voting Rights

Elizabeth Warren calls for a ‘right to vote’

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) endorsed a constitutional amendment enshrining the right to vote, which she said would bring some “federal muscle” to repealing voter suppression laws around the country.

She made her remarks at a town hall late Monday in Mississippi, the state that disenfranchises more people with felony convictions than any other in the United States.

Being convicted in Mississippi of any one of 22 different offenses can result in a lifetime ban on voting, and according to The Sentencing Project, as of 2016, about a full ten percent of people in Mississippi have been disenfranchised due to a previous conviction.


“How will you expand voting rights to the formerly incarcerated, ensure online voter registration, and non-excuse early voting?” an attendee asked Warren.

“I believe we need a constitutional amendment that protects the right to vote for every American citizen and to make sure that vote gets counted,” Warren said. “We need to put some federal muscle behind that and we need to repeal every one of the voter suppression laws that is out there right now.”

A “right to vote” amendment has gained traction in recent years, in part due to the 2013 Supreme Court decision that struck down part of the Voting Rights Act.

https://thinkprogress.org/warren-town-hall-right-to-vote-70987b9ddbbf/

[Sherman A1]

8. Seems to be very well

thought out and presented.

[crazytown]

11. A Constitutional Amendment is a big ask

But the 2013 Supreme Court decision that struck down part of the Voting Rights Act, ties the hands of the Federal Government on everything.

[Sherman A1]

12. Anything is a big ask

in this environment, even very modest moves to protect voting (or other rights) but one does not get anywhere without at least trying.