For project 1 in Comp II, we had to choose a political topic and come up with four stakeholders that fall in the category from it. I had to analyze values and worldviews in this paper. I hope you enjoy.
Luis Alfaro
Rosillo
ENGL-1213
23 February 2022
The Freedom of Vote Act
Today people in society after every term vote in November, specifically on Election Day. Now for some people that is not the case at all. The reason is because some of them might have done crimes, and that basically takes their freedom of voting away. Now to understand voting, we must understand the analysis of it which is under the Freedom of Vote Act. The Freedom of Vote Act is a revised version For the People Act, to protect American’s freedom to vote in every election. Now to specify more of the stakeholders on who it affects, the major groups that the Freedom of Vote Act focuses on majority is people of color specifically African Americans and Latino community, prisoners, the Justice System, how it ties with them being fair and unfair about it, and the Maryland Legislature.
The Freedom of Vote Act focuses on people of color specifically African American, and Latino communities. For example, to be more specific, the focus shifts towards African Americans. In addition, in the article, “Voting Rights for African Americans”, demonstrates the perspective from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and understand the way of how he thinks. Also, to include the history of trying to make his community, especially in his own kind better for himself, and to not handle segregation. The article quotes,
“Many brave and impassioned Americans protested, marched, were arrested and even died working toward voting equality. In 1963 and 1964, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. brought hundreds of black people to the courthouse in Selma, Alabama to register. When they were turned away, Dr. King organized and led protests that finally turned the tide of American political opinion. In 1964 the Twenty-fourth Amendment prohibited the use of poll taxes. In 1965, the Voting Rights Act directed the Attorney General to enforce the right to vote for African Americans” (Voting Rights for African Americans). The reason why King Jr does this is to show and understand of how African Americans are being treated in times when Blacks were being mistreated. Also, it seems that they were understood as being different just because of their skin color. To add on, from the same article, some states especially in the South show the effect of how being turned away. The article demonstrates,
“Yet states still found ways to circumvent the Constitution and prevent blacks from voting. Poll taxes, literacy tests, fraud and intimidation all turned African Americans away from the polls. Until the Supreme Court struck it down in 1915, many states used the “grandfather clause ” to keep descendents of slaves out of elections. The clause said you could not vote unless your grandfather had voted — an impossibility for most people whose ancestors were slaves” (Voting Rights for African Americans). Still back then, they understood of believing that the states were not being fair at all towards how regular Americans just ordinary people were just being insane towards blacks. Now to shift gears, Latinos are on the same boat as African Americans. For example, in the article, “For latinos, 1965 voting rights act impact came a decade later”, demonstrates it gave the community a good remark for how they were able to vote. The article states,
“The significance is tangible today as the Latino vote has become a “must have” for any candidate wanting to get elected to the White House. The number of Latinos in elected or appointed office has grown to 6,124 and the share of eligible voters who are Latino has hit 11 percent. It’s been the basis on which many lawsuits have been filed for candidates such as Molina to have a chance at holding office. Before her election to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Los Angeles County’s voting districts for its board were drawn so that black and Latino citizens in the urban core were divided among all the districts, diluting their political influence, and voting power to elect candidates of their choosing” (For Latinos, 1965 voting rights act impact came a decade later). The reason for their believing, and analyzing the text is to show the Latinos sometimes are not heard enough, especially when it comes to any election that they can be a part of. Not only that, but these also demonstrates show that gathering these kinds of information can never get a community anywhere.
Prisoners are another stakeholder that don’t get talked about when dealing with the Freedom of Vote Act. For example, in the article, “They were sentenced to life in prison. Who should decide if they get a second chance?” shows that some prisoners should deserve a second chance through the analysis of this article, and prisoners making the choice. The article demonstrates, “The parole process, I think, really brings that choice — not only a choice of the criminal process — a choice about what society we believe in,” said Parris Glendening (D), a former Maryland governor who has seen his own position on the issue evolve over three decades. “Do we believe in redemption and rehabilitation, or do we believe primarily in punishment and revenge?” (Washington Post). Governor Glendening claims he does this for his state, which he is from Maryland, to protect his people from crime. Also, with more analyzing from the article, we also see that it seems he wants better for also the prisoner’s families. To add on, from the same article, another Republican member Kurt W. Wolfgang shows that people lose hope if they don’t get a second chance. The article states,
““The trend now is toward people believing that the enlightened position is that [lifers] ought to be given second chances,” Wolfgang, a former prosecutor in Maryland’s Prince George’s County, said in November, weeks before the override vote. “But people don’t serve a life sentence because they received a life sentence. They serve a life sentence because they take a knife and stab someone twenty-four times. … They serve a life sentence because of the horrific, vile, disgusting acts that they took that ruined other people’s lives” (Washington Post). He believes having a shot of freedom is vital in helping them to change and seeing that in people is what he wants best for the people.
The Justice System is another stakeholder, and how it ties with them seemingly both fair and unfair to prisoners. For example, in the article, “Felon Voting Rights”, talks about the process of why they should go through automatic registrations. The quote states, “In all cases, “automatic restoration” does not mean that voter registration is automatic. Typically prison officials automatically inform election officials that an individual’s rights have been restored. The person is then responsible for re-registering through normal processes. Some states, California is one example, require that voter registration information be provided to formerly incarcerated people” (Felon Voting Rights). The article believes, and analyze that yes, some prison officials make it happen to prisoners, but California specifically make it possible for them to vote again even after prisoners had been charged. To add on, from another article, “The Right to Vote and the Criminal Justice System”, they instead talk about the people who have not been convicted of a crime but show the resources they need to vote. The article quotes,
“Moreover, the criminal justice system affects voting even for those who are never convicted of a crime. Jail-based disenfranchisement is another often overlooked way in which the criminal justice system deprives people—particularly low income, people of color—of their political voices. Half a million people are incarcerated in pretrial detention each day, people who have not been convicted of any crime and often simply cannot afford to pay bail—all of whom retain their right to vote. Americans do not lose the right to vote before they have been convicted of felonies even if they are incarcerated. Also, in most states, people do not lose the right to vote when they are incarcerated for a misdemeanor. However, because they are incarcerated, eligible jailed voters cannot access their polling places. Without infrastructure in place to provide these voters with alternative access to the ballot, they cannot exercise their constitutional right to vote. Unfortunately, few jails provide eligible voters with the resources they need to vote. It is time to take steps to ensure these voters have real access to the ballot box” (The Right to Vote and the Criminal Justice System). They analyze and demonstrate that voters should be able to access these even when not convicted. They also tend to do these to people who cannot afford a bail, so the justice system is not them being fair.
Another stakeholder is the Maryland Legislature tying to the Freedom of Vote Act. For example, in the article, “Voting rights restored to 40,000 Marylanders” show that now to be treated equally as an individual, and seemingly to people who are doing better. The article states, “The measure builds on recent bipartisan support for rights restoration around the country” (Voting Rights restored to 40,000 Marylanders). They analyze and support the causes of the state to show that they deserve a second chance on being treated. To add on, they also show that Maryland will be restored with 13 states. The article states, “When the rights restoration bill becomes law, Maryland will be the newest addition in the national movement to restore voting rights to people who are released from prison, joining 13 states and the District of Columbia” (Voting Rights restored to 40,000 Marylanders), They show that Maryland will make sure that prisoners who are released by justified, for not just their crimes, but who they are.
The stakeholders that were mentioned when talking about the Freedom of Vote Act were Brown and Black races on how they are the highest incarcerated group, prisoners on how they deserve a second chance, the justice system on how they are neutral, and the Maryland Legislature. All these combined are something that today people don’t deserve a second chance, but also bring upon change to America. The Freedom of Vote Act is something talked about a lot but deserves to because some people automatically need to get a chance of being worthy again.