Bernie Sanders Wants Convicted Terrorists and Sex Offenders to Vote

During this evening’s CNN Town Hall, Bernie Sanders defended the right for felons to vote, including the Boston Marathon bomber:

Read the Q&A:

Audience Member: Senator Sanders, you said that you believe that people with felony records should be allowed to vote while in prison.Does this mean you would support enfranchising people like the Boston marathon bomber, a convicted terrorist and murder? Do you think that those convicted of sexual assault should have the opportunity to vote for politicians that could have a direct impact on women’s rights?

Bernie Sanders: Thank you for the question. What our campaign is about is creating a vibrant democracy. Today as you know we have one of the lowest voter turn outs of my country on Earth. I want to see one of the highest voter turn outs. We’re seeing more young people getting involved in the political process but not enough. And in my view if young people voted at the same percentage that older people voted in this country we would transform this nation. But to get to your point, we live in a moment where cowardly Republican vote governors are trying to suppress the vote. Right here in New Hampshire they’re working hard to make it more difficult for young people to vote and to me that is incredibly undemocratic, un-american process and I say to those people, by the way, if you don’t have the guts to participate in free and fair elections you should get another job and get out of politics. All right? So to answer your question, as it happens in my own state of Vermont from the very first days of our state’s history our constitution says everybody can vote. So people in jail can vote. If somebody commits a serious crime, sexual assault, murder, they’re going to be punished. They may be in jail for 10 years, 20 years, 50 years, their whole life. That’s what happens when you commit a serious crime but I think the right to vote is inherent to our democracy. Yes, even for terrible people because once you start chipping away and you say well that guy committed a terrible crime, not going to let him vote. Well that person did that. Not going to let that person vote, you’re running down a slippery slope. So I believe people commit crimes and they paid the price and they have the right to vote. I believe even if they’re in jail they’re paying their price to society but that should not take away their American right to participate in our democracy. 

Chris Cuomo: You think the Boston marathon bomber should vote not after he pays his debt to society but while he’s in jail. Are you sure about that? 

Bernie Sanders: I think I have written many 30 second opposition ads throughout my life. This will be just another one. But I do believe — this is what I believe. You believe in democracy? That every single American 18 years of age or older who is an American citizen has the right to vote? Once you start chipping away at that — that’s what our Republican governors are doing. Coming up with all kinds of excuses while people of color, young people, poor people can’t vote and I will do everything I can to resist it. This is a democracy this is a democracy and we have to expand that democracy and every person has a right to vote.