But the notion of voting rights for those still in prison has already opened up Sanders and other Democratic candidates to attacks from Republicans painting them as soft on criminals. That he gets his absentee ballot.”Sanders’s comments, and the reaction to them, reflect Democratic candidates’ tricky path ahead. “This will be just another one.”The town hall question reflected a national debate on criminal justice and voting rights. Still, many people — including presidential candidates — seem uncomfortable with the notion of allowing felons to vote before they have completed their sentences. Disenfranchisement laws affect nearly 6 million Americans, although states vary in whether and how they restore voting rights, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

Source: Washington Post April 23, 2019 22:44 UTC