Degree Type
Honors Capstone Project
Date of Submission
Spring 5-1-2019
Capstone Advisor
Kristi Andersen
Capstone Major
Political Science
Capstone College
Arts and Science
Audio/Visual Component
no
Capstone Prize Winner
no
Won Capstone Funding
yes
Honors Categories
Social Sciences
Subject Categories
American Politics | Other Political Science | Political Science
Abstract
Definitions of citizenship in the United States require discussions about political, civil, and social rights. In Florida, over 1.5 million ex-felons experience challenges in defining their citizenship because they have been stripped of their right to vote. However, Florida’s Amendment 4 could positively impact ex-felon citizenship by automatically restoring ex-felons’ voting rights after completing their sentences. Survey data showing approval of ex-felon enfranchisement and interviews of ex-felons barred from voting provide the information used to make claims about how voting rights will affect ex-felons’ citizenship. In this paper, theoretical analyses of the data presented to suggest that public opinion supports ex-felon enfranchisement and that granting voting rights to ex-felons will provide a path towards full citizenship. However, ex-felons who committed severe crimes such as sexual abuse or murder, will continue to experience semi-citizenship due to public disapproval of the immorality of this category of crime.
Recommended Citation
Spraggins, Rebecca, "How will the restoration of ex-felons’ voting rights in Florida affect their citizenship?" (2019). Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All. 1105.
https://surface.syr.edu/honors_capstone/1105
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