Punishment and InclusionAt the start of the twenty first century, 1 percent of the U. S. population is behind bars. An additional 3 percent is on parole or probation. In all but two states, incarcerated felons cannot vote, and in three states felon disenfranchisement is for life. More than 5 million adult Americans cannot vote because of a felony class criminal conviction, meaning that more than 2 percent of otherwise eligible voters are stripped of their political rights.