Date Presented

Spring 5-18-2024

Document Type

Thesis

First Advisor

Dr. Timothy Meinke

Second Advisor

Dr. Daniel Lang

Third Advisor

Dr. Beth Savage

Abstract

Felon disenfranchisement laws can leave communities of color without accurate representation in voting, leaving them voiceless. To examine the intent behind felon disenfranchisement laws, I have examined factors in 49 states such as a state's discriminatory history, geography, economic status, political culture, and political orientation. Nebraska is not included in this study since it has nonpartisan legislative elections, which would have skewed the results. Through this research, it has been determined that political factors such as political culture, political orientation, and a state’s past discrimination have an impact on felon disenfranchisement laws, while the other variables do not. Specifically, it was discovered that states which instituted more modes of discrimination were more like to institute harsher felon disenfranchisement laws as well as Republican and traditionalistic states. As a result, felon disenfranchisement laws call into question our system of Democracy since some states are restricting felons from voting based on racial prejudices. This goes against the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution which guarantee’s every citizen the right to vote. Since certain states restrict felons from voting, this calls into question what citizenship is. To analyze this more, the debate over citizen within the United States was briefly examined to propose a solution and finally have a solidified definition of citizenship.

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