toughest rules. other states allow them to vote once they serve sentences and pay their fines. two states, maine and vermont allow all felons to vote even while they are in prison. so what is right? i don t know i don t have an answer for that one martha: you mentioned the social contract. that s really what it comes down to. if you break the laws of the land are you giving up your right, your agreement with all the different people you live with in the united states of america to have the privileges? and it is a privilege, right reporter: it is a privilege and it matters in politics. if you think that florida has 600,000 felons and look how close the gore-bush was 537 votes. felons tend to vote democratic. if they were allowed to vote in florida, gore would have been president. martha: you went out and talked to have youths, some of the youth people out there on the streets about voting reporter: and some older folks around the building martha: what did you find out right outside