In his Jan. 16 editorial (“Don’t give felons the right to vote”), Craig Groshart argues that allowing convicted felons to vote is a “travesty of justice.” I wholeheartedly disagree. The real travesty of justice is the denial of voting rights to a specific group of American citizens.

This week, as we celebrate the memory of Martin Luther King Jr., a man who fought tirelessly for equal civic and social rights for the people of America, I find it ironic that certain members of our society continue to favor the denial of representation to convicted felons—a group that is disproportionately made up of minorities, with blacks overrepresented.

Numerous studies have found that blacks and other racial minorities are incarcerated at rates that far exceed those of their white counterparts. The federal 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is right to reason that denying felons the right to vote is a violation of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Representative democracy is a crucial part of America’s ideological foundation. We value our political freedoms and privileges in this country, which includes universal suffrage for citizens over the age of 18. When someone has been found guilty of a crime — even a felony — they do not cease to become an American citizen, nor does government policy cease to affect them.

Allowing felons the right to vote is in agreement with American ideals of freedom and equality. It would also help felons in their efforts to become responsible, law-abiding citizens.

Alex Jeffers, Bellevue