Projo Politics Blog

I would like to congratulate all the RI voters who decided not to continue to disenfranchise these tax-paying citizens of RI. This, in my eyes, was the most important vote of the election this year, and I am glad to see 'approve' sliding into the majority.

This is a very sad but typical day in the state of RI. The passing of this foolish bill only shows how uninformed the voting public are of the ramification associated with this bill. I am going to cringe when I hear of child abusiers and murders being able to share the rights of law abiding. What is next for this state, permitting the criminally insane to vote? Wait, the city of Cranston has already been promoting and allowing this happen even though it is against the law!!!

This is very disappointing.

What ramifications, exactly? The number of truly heinous felons affected by this bill is negligible. Given how broken our justice system is, this bill will primarily affect felons convicted of nonviolent crimes and potentially lead to lower rates of recidivism. What images are you conjuring up? A felon party? The legalization of rape? Please - if they do use their newfound right to vote, they will only be casting their ballot on the same issues you do. Given the fact that they are raising children, working, paying taxes, etc., the least they deserve is some representation.

Oh wait. I forgot. The only thing to do with prisoners is to extract punitive measures. Oops. Call for the electric shocks. That's sure to reintegrate them into society.

I was raped 6 years ago. The man who did that to me was given 18 years, with 4 to serve.
Do you people know what you have done to me!

Yes let's reward the rapists and criminals. Obviously they deserve to exercise this right being the upstanding citizens that they are.

Electric shocks? I wasn't aware "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" took place within a prison?

Gee, this means Cianci can vote and even get elected to Rhode Island Office when he is released next year. Perhaps we might even see Mollicone and the Deprites make a come back. Rhode Island politics as usual.

Ignorance is alive and well in Rhode Island!

Not all convicted felons are murders and rapists.
As a matter of fact they comprise a very small minority. I know many people who have previous felony convictions on much lesser crimes and are on probation of parole and have turned their lives around. They are tax paying, productive members of our society. Many of them have made up for their past by giving back to our communities and working very hard to to help others.

I'm sure Mr. Clancy doesn't mind taking their hard earned tax money. They deserve to vote and I am ecstatic that this state has finally woken up to this fact.

To Mr. Brinkman: there is a waiting period for felons who wish to run for office that was in place before the referendum and remains in place today. Yes, Cianci will be able to vote, but question two changed nothing concerning his capacity to run for office.

To bobby: the second paragraph of my last comment consisted of what is generally known as "sarcasm," which I see you have employed to great effect yourself. Also, the idea was never to "reward rapists and criminals." The idea was to create a more equitable society, one that acknowledges that when criminals are treated as perpetual trash, they are likely to meet that expectation upon release.

First things first.....voting is a RIGHT,not a priviledge.when a person pays their debt to society they have every right that each of us have.some of these posts are totally ignorant.who says that if someone committed a felony(in the past)that they are rapists and murderers?any idea how many crimes are considered felonies?probably not.i am not going any further with this because the bottom line is the first line i wrote...it is a RIGHT!if ignorance is bliss,then wipe the smile off my face.(ya i know its a quote,and no i am not a felon...i am an american.by the way,the hardened criminal that sooooo many of you speak of probably has no interest in voting anyway.get a life,read a book!)

Are you kidding me. Felons voting. With all of the thiefs from the Cianci administration being able to vote Cianci might be able to get back into politics but I think that the charter excludes felons from being mayor. I hope that everyone in RI read The Prince of Providence a very telling book about the real Buddy Cianci. What a thief and thug.

Hey ,you never know,Cianci was a convicted felon the second time he became mayor. You know, the crime of beating up on his wife's boyfriend? Most people who will take advantage of the passing of this referendum are honestly trying to turn their lives around. I wish them the best of luck!!!