States should not be prohibit ex-cons from voting once they've served their debt to society, renowned civil-rights lawyer Alan Dershowitz tells Newsmax TV.
"I think all former felons who have served their time in prison should be allowed to vote. They are not denied their citizenship. I think it's a mistake to take people's voting rights away because they've been convicted of a crime," Dershowitz said Monday to Steve Malzberg on "America Talks Live."
Around 6.1 million Americans across 12 states who've been convicted of crimes are ineligible from voting in Tuesday's presidential election because of felon disenfranchisement laws.
"Now they shouldn't vote while they're in prison, ok, but once they have been rehabilitated, once they've been released. I mean I know people who are living the most distinguished lives in business and they can't vote because 30 years ago as a kid they were convicted of a felony.
"It's an absurd argument and it should go across the board and after this election we should have legislation all over the country restoring the right to vote to people who have been convicted of crimes as long as they stay out of trouble."
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Dershowitz, a Harvard Law professor emeritus, is author of "Electile Dysfunction: A Guide for Unaroused Voters," published by Rosettabooks.
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