(no subject)

[serene]

The best moment from yesterday was when a young man said he couldn't vote because he's a felon. I said, "Did you finish your parole?"

"Yes."

"Then you're an EX-felon, and you can vote."

"Are you SURE?!?!?"

I showed him the FAQ, where it says clearly that once you've served your parole, you can vote, and he was SO excited. He registered, and now he can't wait to vote in the election. He had been feeling really disappointed that he couldn't vote at such an important time.

(In my opinion, people should be able to vote even if they're on parole or in prison, but that's not the way it is in California, where I live and vote.)

Comments

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

In California, if a qualified professional has said you're incompetent, you may not vote.

[ailbhe]

I wonder how that's checked? I have no idea how it's done here.

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

We have competence hearings here for other things (child custody, incarceration for crimes, etc.), but I imagine that in practical terms, it means that people who are psychiatric inpatients are denied the right to register to vote, and no one challenges it.