05/15/11

The 2000 Election

"I don't care who wins anymore, I just want to stop counting."

The 2000 election was definitely a shocking one. There has not been such a close election since 1876 and the outcome of the election was simply stunning. Bush had won the state of Florida by a shocking 537 votes. Although the 2000 election could easily be explained and covered with no difficulty, it is interesting to imagine what could have happened. If only Gore’s request for a hand recount was able to be finished before the dead line of December 12th (safe harbor deadline),the 2000 election may have had a completely different result. For all we know, the United States would have had Al Gore as president from the time of 2000-2008. Imagine the different policies and approaches he would have approved while he is in office.

The 2000 election could have easily been Al Gore’s as it could have been Bush’s. As Foner had mentioned, 960,000 ex felons were unable to vote in the election. Excluding nearly one million people from election could have been the changing factor. Another factor being the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to declare a hand recount unconstitutional.

05/15/11

The right to vote

Although this is an old news story, it proves to have a very controversial point. The right to vote has always been a right worth fighting for and many ex-felons are speaking up now. Felony disenfranchisement is a term used to describe the practice of prohibiting people (often times inmates and ex-felonies) from voting based on the fact that they were convicted for a criminal offense. The United States has more than two million people incarcerated meaning more than two million Americans (although they are criminals) do not have the right to vote. That is a large piece of opinion or voice unable to speak up for decisions regarding the government. In many states even ex felons (approximately 2.1 million) who have completed their sentence is still unable to vote. However, in 2007 in the state of Florida a portion of non-violent felony convictions will regain the right to vote for the first time in year.

This action to partially restore the right to vote to ex-felons is definitely a very important one. Although these Americans were once criminals, it does not mean their voice does not count. In the election of 2000, between Al Gore and Bush, a whooping 537 votes was the difference between the winner and the loser of the election. In the year 2000, nearly one million ex-felons (960,000) in the state of Florida were unable to vote. If they had the chance, the outcome of the election would probably have a lasting effect on our history today.

Source:
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/usa/features/article_1440395.php/After_jail_millions_of_US_ex-felons_lose_right_to_vote_Feature