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Ideology over strategy: Extending voting rights to felons and ex-felons, 1966–1992
- Source :
-
Social Science Journal . Jun2011, Vol. 48 Issue 2, p356-363. 8p. - Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- Abstract: The disenfranchisement of felons and ex-felons has long served to restrict the practice of democracy in the United States. In the late 20th century, a number of states allowed increasing numbers of felons and ex-felons to vote. Previous work has noted that Democrats are often associated with extensions of voting rights to felons and ex-felons. If this is the case, what accounts for their support for re-enfranchisement? In this paper I conduct a series of event history analyses of voting rights policy changes at the state level. I argue that Democratic support was not based on expected electoral benefits that might derive from changes in the composition of the electorate. Instead, analyses suggest that would-be reformers—often Democratic, but also Republican—were importantly constrained by the ideological climate among a state''s population. Thus, policy liberalism appears to have trumped crass partisan strategizing in encouraging restoration of voting rights to felons and ex-felons. Results also confirm claims that local patterns of racial domination were relevant in decisions to re-enfranchise or not. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 03623319
- Volume :
- 48
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Social Science Journal
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 60787010
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soscij.2010.11.001