Not letting convicts or ex-convicts vote is discriminatory. Why should they not be allowed to vote, when their quality of life is affected by politics too? If they are not worthy, why are we feeding them, housing them and giving them medical care? Since voting is an essential function of being a citizen of the country, it is as if convicts are not considered valid citizens, in which case they should all be exiled -- not fed and sheltered. Furthermore, not allowing them to vote can effect, to some degree, a self-perpetuating tyranny of that faction of people who do not commit so-called 'crimes' -- that is, the same faction of people who, by voting, can determine what actually constitute a 'crime' as well as what the punishments are. Here's an examplary illustration: Let's say 40% of people think smoking marijuana should be a felony, and 60% think it's just fine. The 60% who think it's fine are convicted for smoking marijuanna because it's illegal, while the 40% not in jail continue to exclusively vote on legislation or legislators that keep marijuana as a felony. The example may seem hyperbolic, but the point is that the general effect may occur, to some degree.