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NAACP ask United Nations to investigate US voting laws

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    Legal panel weighs in on the case

  • Duration 6:20
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But -- escorted back in session on the docket today -- controversial request the NAACP.

Is asking the United Nations to review our voting laws here in America.

A delegation pressing the UN Human Rights Council to look -- to look into what the -- double -- -- racially discriminatory election -- here in the United States.

Alleging that millions of citizens here are currently barred from voting.

This is true.

Because of previous felony convictions.

And saying that many of those folks are minorities.

Now ahead of the elections they want the United Nations to investigate.

So should it.

Joining me now -- -- -- former prosecutor now that -- And -- -- dollop former prosecutor now defense attorney right and I think -- So the NAACP thinks that have laws that say once you've committed a felony and gone to jail -- -- you cannot vote.

In in several states it's forever more.

-- are racially discriminatory the unit UN needs to get involved they have a point John.

They actually they don't while I agree that felons once you serve your time -- your role and you re integrate back into society that you should have the right to vote but.

38 states already allow felons to do that so and so the message from the NAACP -- a little misleading because we're talking about twelve state.

That put serious restrictions three wood whatever that you -- again so you get them Bob they're gonna fight and that's probably.

Not discriminatory.

Really you know you went.

I'm gonna play.

Our city at it -- my permission was that -- four states Florida Iowa conduct in Virginia.

Barr former felons from voting for life unless they get a pardon from the government Florida Iowa conducting Virginia so.

And Vermont and Maine.

You can be and yet cobra I can't go anywhere from mass murder and -- -- -- -- -- voted absentee ballot and -- ballot -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- that the two opposite ends look.

When -- winning any human being in the United States of America pleads guilty to a felony.

There is an element -- I should speak for new York and that's where I practice law there is no way to to be able to vote is called you asked the judge to relieve you.

Of -- schools civil disabilities it -- judge could you let him vote.

Maybe not while he's in jail but as soon as he gets out of jail that document that a judge can -- even would let you go apply for pistol permit.

However those are rarely given.

We just say if you committing murder rape.

Burglary robbery -- -- Would theft sorry if you go to plead guilty not go to trial either -- or -- convicted.

Part of your punishment is you use -- you lose that special right that we have to elect our elected but -- Double ACP seems to be -- job of that -- Because the overwhelming number of people who go to jail on these these felony convictions are minorities there's minority disenfranchisement.

They are they believe that there's a problem in the criminal justice system.

With these convictions to begin with that -- something skewed about the numbers that you have this percentage of minorities going to prison.

And so they think the whole system is basically rigged and that as a result we have that sort of bent over backwards to try to preserve that vote.

Yes yet I don't believe I agree with that he can't argue that at your disenfranchising.

A large block the minorities when.

That has nothing to do with whether or not they were convicted or pled guilty to a felony offense but I think that -- that the NAACP would argue it does have something to do with the fact that they were found get -- -- get Celtic.

You know but how many dots do we need to -- and again I think it's good.

-- -- at that at that prison with enough time to live a life you're not -- never felt like even if you've committed a serious crime.

We want to be able to act like law abiding productive human beings and giving them the right to -- Is one little tiny step in that I get that but that's not gonna solve the problem as to whether who is committing serious crimes who's going to.

-- I think there argument I think their argument is a little misguided -- mean.

It's like a chicken and the egg almost kind of analogy and it's deep -- people lots more -- I am to figure out why it it -- it is disproportionate.

I'm in court every day -- you know it it is disproportionate there's no longer about that and why it is I don't know delighting the UN if the body -- -- -- absolutely not if you go to the UN and asked them for about kids that aren't they aren't really laws in your literally that the council that they go to includes representatives from.

Saudi Arabia China Cuba distinction you can't what women getting the Saudi Arabia they're gonna go over here and tell us are voting wasn't just for.

What's interesting is in in many of the countries in Western Europe you have to show identification to vote in Italy and France and Spain you have to show an ID to vote.

They will very much against that here in America you get it she'll be NAACP president yeah they went to the UN not around and meanwhile in the major members of the UN I mean -- than the ones we speak up often.

They all require a different.

The story in America that's -- that's -- because -- -- -- I can't -- do you -- -- Mexico in revenue in -- but when you when you require voter -- here in America -- it's just.

-- yeah I have to disagree -- the N double ACP on that went to we need to know who's going into our voting -- that's not that's not a stringent requirement I mean come on what happened here the UN actually did get interested it's not out of the realm of possibility right for the UN to say you know what you got a point.

And I don't like those four states that -- it forever -- those twelve state that has some restrictions on felons voting.

Today.

When it comes that I that.

I think not -- -- -- -- you know each individual state and maybe eventually this Supreme Court but not that not the UN what are we gonna get like written up -- -- -- about the identity -- -- recognize report and -- everybody should know is that the I'm voters' rights our state rights the federal government does not dictate that that's why you know as you're saying it is believed.

Every state has a different kind of.

Asked a different angle on this.

So that was the UN gonna do that your -- -- you would you boycott American because Ahmedabad is getting no help them see you get held after address the next few that he gets he's gonna have the right.

Fifty times in a blackboard we will not discriminate against balancing the report I think about it.

And if they did bring -- misdemeanor people too that a while they're incarcerated they can't they can't vote I'm like.

-- all the guys -- -- -- who stole a car they do and sixty days or DW I did die and go vote fast.

That's right I'll just make sure I don't lose my -- to vote I really believe that it.

And what I -- ask him for a go -- -- -- -- -- Our job now aren't I think -- -- -- -- seen you know I learned that I -- Where we learned last week quote cruel prank --