Texas Lt. Gov. Floats Removing Biden From State Ballot in Response to Colorado Dumping Trump

return2ozma@lemmy.world to politics @lemmy.world – 222 points –
Texas Lt. Gov. Floats Removing Biden From State Ballot in Response to Colorado Dumping Trump
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Show me in the 14th Amendment Section 3 where it says you have to be convicted.

Here is the full text. Show me any mention of convicted:

Section 3

No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

See “felony disenfranchisement” and “presumption of innocence”. Amendment 14 section 3 doesn’t exist in a vacuum.

Depriving someone of life, liberty, or property does require due process of law, which would be a "conviction".

But, I am failing to see how "running for president" can be considered a constitutionally protected right or privilege. Can you show me how this right or privilege comes into existence?

Depriving someone of life, liberty, or property does require due process of law, which would be a "conviction".

People are kicked off of voter rolls all the time without being convicted of anything. That's actually more egregious violation of rights if you ask me.

It’s right there in the constitution. It says anyone over age 35 who is a citizen and has lived here for 14 years.

https://www.usa.gov/requirements-for-presidential-candidates

To take this away from someone should require conviction of a crime. Just as taking away the right to vote does.

Look, I can’t stand Trump. But I also don’t believe in stripping rights from someone without being convicted first. It’s too slippery of a slope, and it could easily be abused otherwise.

The context, though, was in response to the Confederates returning to the Union. They did not need convictions for this to apply (it's not like they would try and convict every person that participated in the Civil War on the wrong side), so I don't know why you think it would start applying now.

Yeah I think the historical context and straightforward language make the intent of section 3 pretty clear.

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It’s right there in the constitution. It says anyone over age 35 who is a citizen and has lived here for 14 years.

The minimum criteria mentioned in the constitution do not strip the power of the state to run their own elections. The existence of those criteria do not negate the powers conveyed to the state. Any individual "rights" conveyed by those requirements are still subject to the powers conveyed to the state.

The constitution empowered the Colorado legislature to enact law declaring how its elections will be run. The Colorado legislature declared that the Colorado courts will be empowered to answer any questions arising under its electoral process.

A question of candidate eligibility was raised. The duly elected and constitutionally empowered legislature enacted law requiring the court to answer that question. Just because Trump doesn't like that answer does not mean his rights were infringed.

The minimum criteria mentioned in the constitution do not strip the power of the state to run their own elections.

Agreed. The Constitution states minimum requirements to be President. It definitely takes more than that to become President. The ruling out of Colorado doesn't even forbid him from being President. Obviously he could still win enough states without Colorado and this ruling doesn't forbid electoral delegates from voting for him either. If a candidate misses a deadline even it could keep them off the ballot. Being listed on one is not a right.

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