Disenfranchising refers to the removal of the ability to vote from a person or group of people.

An example of intentional, legal disenfranchisement of individuals is how some U.S. states deny the ability to vote to a convicted felon. Specifically, 13 states disenfranchise all convicted felons for life; Texas bars ex-felons from voting until two years after they are released from custody, and two other states (Arizona and Maryland) permanently disenfranchise two-time convicted felons. In addition to these 16 states, 13 others also ban persons who are on probation for a felony but were not sentenced to prison time from the suffrage, and these plus three more states (or 32 in all) disqualify those on parole from voting. Four states — Maine, Massachusetts, Utah and Vermont — actually allow prisoners to vote while in custody, and 14 exclude only persons who are presently serving time in a state prison. Some states treat a dishonorable discharge from any of the armed forces as the equivalent of a felony conviction. A U.S. state is any one of the 50 states (four of which officially favor the term commonwealth) which, together with the District of Columbia, form the United States of America. ... Prior to 1821, Texas was part of the Spanish colony of New Spain. ... State nickname: The Grand Canyon State, The Copper State Other U.S. States Capital Phoenix Largest city Phoenix Governor Janet Napolitano (D) Official languages English Only State Area 295,254 km² (6th)  - Land 294,312 km²  - Water 942 km² (0. ... State nickname: Old Line State; Free State Other U.S. States Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Governor Robert L. Ehrlich (R) Official languages English Area 32,160 km² (42nd)  - Land 25,338 km²  - Water 6,968 km² (21%) Population (2000)  - Population 5,296,486 (19th)  - Density 165 /km² (5th) Admission... Probation is the suspension of a prison or jail sentence - the criminal who is on probation has been convicted of a crime, but instead of serving prison time, has been found by the Court to be amenable to probation and will be returned to the community for a period in... Parole can have different meanings depending on the context. ... State nickname: The Pine Tree State Other U.S. States Capital Augusta Largest city Portland Governor John Baldacci (D) Official languages None Area 86,542 km² (39th)  - Land 80,005 km²  - Water 11,724 km² (13. ... State nickname: Bay State Other U.S. States Capital Boston Largest city Boston Governor Mitt Romney (R) Official languages English Area 27,360 km² (44th)  - Land 20,317 km²  - Water 7,043 km² (25. ... State nickname: Beehive State Other U.S. States Capital Salt Lake City Largest city Salt Lake City Governor Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. ... State nickname: The Green Mountain State Other U.S. States Capital Montpelier Largest city Burlington Governor Jim Douglas (R) Official languages None Area 24,923 km² (45th)  - Land 23,974 km²  - Water 949 km² (3. ... A military discharge is given when a member of the armed forces is released from their obligation to serve. ...

Another example is the disenfranchisement of entire groups of people, such as women, various racial, ethnic or religious minorities depending on the country, or members of some political groups. This can lead to warfare, as in the case of the American Revolutionary War (the cry 'No taxation without representation' conveys this message). This is a good example of the intentional disenfranchisement of a group of people (British colonists in America) by the government in Britain. Similarly, the US citizens of Puerto Rico pay US taxes and are conscripted to fight in US wars, but they aren't represented in Congress and cannot vote for President. Image of a woman on the Pioneer plaque sent to outer space. ... The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War of Independence, was a war fought primarily between Great Britain and revolutionaries within thirteen North American colonies. ... No taxation without representation was a rallying cry for advocates of American independence from Great Britain in the eighteenth century. ... ...

Another form of disenfranchisement is experienced by voters in the District of Columbia, who have voted for the President since the Twenty-third Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1961. The District is still disenfranchised because it lacks representation in Congress. ... Amendment XXIII (the Twenty-third Amendment) of the United States Constitution permits the District of Columbia to choose Electors for President and Vice President. ... 1961 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...

An example of unintentional disenfranchisement of a group of people is expounded by supporters of the U.S. Electoral College. Briefly, supporters feel that strict majority vote would disenfranchise the mostly rural American West, by denying them the ability to ever influence an election due to their small numbers. This would be unintentional disenfranchisement as it is an effect of the change, not a direct goal of the change in voting law. The United States Electoral College is the electoral college which chooses the President and Vice President of the United States at the conclusion of each Presidential election. ...

Felony disenfranchisement is discussed extensively by the Sentencing Project[1], an organization concerned with reducing prison sentences and ameliorating some of the negative effects of incarceration. Although the information provided by this organization is biased against various practices, the website provides a wealth of statistical data that reflects data available from organizations with opposing views, and from the United States government and various state governments. The Sentencing Project promotes more effective and humane alternatives to prison for criminal offenders. ...

See also: Lishenets (disenfranchised in Soviet Union) Lishenets (Russian: лишенец), literally translated as disenfranchised, was a person stripped of the right of voting in the Soviet Union of 1918 — 1936. ...