Disenfranchised Ex-Felon Veterans: A Critical Analysis of the Effects of Soldiers Locked Out of America's Voting Process

• In Event: Crime and Justice Issues in the Military: Perspectives from the U.S. and U.K.

Abstract

When a U.S. citizen enlist into the military, the last step of the enlistment process is an informal ceremony where the recruit raises their right hand reciting the following:

"I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same….”,

Elated to become a part of a long-standing history of war heroes and patriots in America’s military, they are unaware that the Constitution they will defend does not secure their right to vote, and may therefore be denied voting rights as a result of their criminal background. For many returning soldiers, they begin to face lifelong post-war effects, including post-traumatic stress disorder. Many veterans often self-medicate by using drugs or alcohol, and may also act out with aggressive, violent behavior often leading to incarceration. Post-incarceration, many veterans find themselves temporarily or permanently disenfranchised as a result of their felony convictions. Currently, over half-a-million veterans are disenfranchised. The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical analysis of the effects of disenfranchised veterans and offer recommendations for proposed amendments to state and federal voting laws.

Author

• LaShondra Charmaine Jones, Texas Southern University