There are 5.8 million voting-aged Americans who cannot vote.

Why? Because these citizens have at one point in their lives been convicted of a felony.

Florida, Kentucky, and Virginia are the three states that ban anyone who has been convicted of a felony from voting. Maine and Vermont are the only two states that have no voting bans whatsoever. All the other states have some sort of voting restriction given to those with criminal background.

Recently, Attorney General Eric Holder made a statement calling on FL, KY, and VA to repeal their voting laws:

“It is time to fundamentally reconsider laws that permanently disenfranchise people who are no longer under federal or state supervision.”

The disenfranchisement along racial lines has been a big argument in repealing these laws. Currently in Kentucky, Virginia, and Florida, over 20% of African American adults cannot vote due to their criminal history.

Kentucky may be making huge changes in their voting laws due to a bipartisan agreement in the U.S. Capitol led by Republican Sen. Rand Paul.

Rand Paul has stated:

 ”One mistake in life shouldn’t permanently block a citizen’s access to the ballot box. The right to vote is among the most important rights we have. It is something for which people in other countries have lost their lives.”

If Kentucky lawmakers reach an agreement, citizens will vote on it this fall.

Check out these maps by The Washington Post that clearly show disenfranchisement in the United States.

What do you think? Is this modern disenfranchisement acceptable?