New Rules - Pot Is The New Gay Marriage edition.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

[immoderate]

1. Would you believe this pisses me off?

--imm

[Spitfire of ATJ]

2. With your handle? Sure.

[another_liberal]

3. Good for Bill Maher!

Pot laws are maintained for the benefit of alcohol producers and the for-profit prison industry. They serve no other real purpose.

Make it legal now!

[Mr Samuel Hain]

4. DURec

Maher nails it. Again!

[JDPriestly]

5. Important correction.

I've registered a lot of voters. Here is the Secretary of State on who can vote in California:

Qualifications

To register to vote in California, you must be:

A United States citizen,
A resident of California,
18 years of age or older on Election Day,
Not in prison, on parole, serving a state prison sentence in county jail, serving a sentence for a felony pursuant to subdivision (h) of Penal Code section 1170, or on post release community supervision (for more information on the rights of people who have been incarcerated, please see the Secretary of State's Voting Rights for Californians with Criminal Convictions or Detained in Jail or Prison), and
Not found by a court to be mentally incompetent.

http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm

Specifically, if you live in California and have a conviction record, you may be able to vote. Here are the requirements:

Criminal Justice Realignment Act

In 2011, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed the Criminal Justice Realignment Act (CJRA). Under Penal Code section 1170(h), low-level felons are sentenced to county jail and/or supervision by the county probation department instead of state prison. CJRA has caused some confusion about voting rights among people who have criminal convictions. Below states who is eligible and who is not eligible to register to vote in California.
Not Eligible

In state prison.
In county jail serving a state prison sentence.
In county jail serving a felony sentence under Penal Code section 1170(h).
On parole, mandatory supervision, or post release community supervision.

Eligible

In county jail serving a misdemeanor sentence. A misdemeanor never affects your right to vote.
In county jail because jail time is a condition of probation.
On probation.

http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sharing-ideas/voting-rights-californians.htm

Don't be embarrassed. If you are "out" and NOT "on parole, mandatory supervision, or post release community supervision," try to register to vote.

YOUR VOTE COUNTS. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

But be sure you know your status before you register. You will have to sign under penalty of perjury that you are eligible to vote -- specifically. Check the Secretary of State of California's website if you have any questions.

Please. Please. Bill Maher (Bless his heart because I know he would love to have me say that about him.) is not entirely correct on this issue. I want you to vote. Do it for me, please.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

6. That's California.

[JDPriestly]

7. I don't think Maher listed it among states that allow felons to vote.

But California does allow them to vote once they have completed their time.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

8. + Parol from this chart....

http://felonvoting.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=286

Also, you have to admit that he is definitely correct in claiming states use their felony laws to suppress minority participation in the electoral process.

[JDPriestly]

9. Yes.

[dsc]

11. he could have been clearer

in both VT and ME even prisoners can vote. There are several states in which those who are felons but have served their punishments can vote, CA being one.

[blackspade]

10. Crap, video gone.....