Category Archive

It’s an election year, and every election year there is an uptick in the attention given to one of the Center for Equal Opportunity’s issues:  when felons ought to be allowed to vote. Related posts: Felon Voting and Congress The Felon Vote A “NO” to Automatic Felon Voting in Nebraska Felons and the Vote

This little essay is about voting rights, but let’s start with a “National Population” chart from the 2010 Census website. The chart shows that America is more and more a multiracial and multiethnic country. Over one in four Americans now say they are something other than simply “white.” Blacks are no longer the largest minority group; Latinos are. Related posts: Felon Voting and Congress TESTIMONY OF ROGER CLEGG, PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL, CENTER FOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITY BEFORE THE U.S. COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS REGARDING THE PROPOSED EMPLOYMENT NON-DISCRIMINATION ACT 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act The Felon Vote

Usually my weekly emails to you are my own writing, but this week I’m going to send you an excellent column by Perry Pendley, head of the Mountain States Legal Foundation. And I think I have three good reasons for doing so. First, as I said, it’s an excellent column, and it’s even better because it draws on the fine work done by the Center for Equal Opportunity’s chairman Linda Chavez, who has told Congress repeatedly that it should get rid of its offensive requirement that ballots be printed in foreign languages. Second, Mr. Pendley and his organization are longtime …

Last week, federal district court judge John Bates issued a decision in Shelby County v. Holder upholding the constitutionality of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, which requires some jurisdictions (mostly but not exclusively in the South) to get permission from the federal government before making any change, no matter how trivial, in practices and procedures related to voting. This was disappointing but not surprising.  It would take a very brave federal judge to stick to rule-of-law principles and find Section 5 unconstitutional. Such action would bring a torrent of hysterical wrath from the media and the professional grievance …

In a revealing interview this week with The Wall Street Journal, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor addressed the division that will make compromise in the budget fights ahead nearly impossible. In describing the negotiations leading up to the debt-ceiling deal, Cantor said the talks were made difficult because of a major clash of visions between the parties. Related posts: Politicized external review panels as unguided “diversity” missiles: California university administrators remain ultra-slow learners Five Mistakes Some Conservatives Are Making on Immigration Policy Roger Clegg testifies regarding H.R. 40 TESTIMONY OF ROGER CLEGG, PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL, CENTER FOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITY …

Why should felons not be allowed to vote?             Because you don’t have a right to make the laws if you aren’t willing to follow them yourself. To participate in self-government, you must be willing to accept the rule of law. We don’t let everyone vote–not children, not noncitizens, not the mentally incompetent. There are certain minimum and objective standards of trustworthiness, loyalty, and responsibility, and those who have committed serious crimes against their fellow citizens don’t meet those standards. Shouldn’t some felons be allowed to vote?             Yes, and some shouldn’t.  The decision to …