way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State. U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 2. 36 . In fact, the majority’s contrary interpretation of § 2 of the Fourteenth Amendment, i.e. that felon disenfranchisement is constitutionally protected and cannot be restricted, would result in a direct conflict between constitutional directives in that it is well-established that a felon disenfranchisement statute intended to discriminate against minorities are prohibited under § 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment. See Hunter v. Underwood, 471 U.S. 222, 229, 105 S.Ct. 1916, 85 L.Ed.2d.222 (1985) (<HOLDING>). The only reading of § 2 that respects the
holding alabamas disenfranchisement for commission of petty crime or misdemeanor provision unconstitutional holding that absent a knowing and intelligent waiver no person may be imprisoned for any offense whether classified as petty misdemeanor or felony unless he was represented by counsel at his trial holding misdemeanor conviction for petty larceny triggered disenfranchisement holding that no person may be imprisoned for any offense whether classified as petty misdemeanor or felony unless he was represented by counsel at his trial holding alabamas petty crime and misdemeanor disenfranchisement provisions unconstitutional under equal protection clause based on evidence of discriminatory intent