<P> Felony disenfranchisement is the exclusion from voting of people otherwise eligible to vote (known as disfranchisement) due to conviction of a criminal offense, usually restricted to the more serious class of crimes: felonies (crimes of incarceration for a duration of more than a year). Jurisdictions vary as to whether they make such disfranchisement permanent, or restore suffrage after a person has served a sentence, or completed parole or probation . Felony disenfranchisement is one among the collateral consequences of criminal conviction and the loss of rights due to conviction for criminal offense . </P> <P> Proponents have argued that persons who commit felonies have' broken' the social contract, and have thereby given up their right to participate in a civil society . Some argue that felons have shown poor judgment, and that they should therefore not have a voice in the political decision - making process . Opponents have argued that such disfranchisement restricts and conflicts with principles of universal suffrage . It can affect civic and communal participation in general . Opponents argue that felony disenfranchisement can create dangerous political incentives to skew criminal law in favor of disproportionately targeting groups who are political opponents of those who hold power . </P>

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