I agree with Mark’s suggestion, and indeed have written (along with Hans von Spakovsky) that “restoration of voting rights should be done carefully and on a case-by-case basis once the felon can establish in fact that he has turned over a new leaf. When that has been shown, then holding a ceremony — rather like a naturalization ceremony — in which the felon’s voting rights are fully restored would be moving and meaningful.” Perhaps a judge could preside, and friends and family would be invited, too. If memory serves, the NR editors may have endorsed this as well.

I do have to flag one disagreement with Mark’s sound post, though. He writes (emphasis added), ”But given that such a large share of, especially, our black fellow citizens is formally disenfranchised because of past criminality, it behooves conservatives for both policy and political reasons to give the issue of re-enfranchisement more thought.” If a policy makes sense, it should be adopted, and if not, not — and the racial makeup of those affected is irrelevant.