Should prisoners have a right to vote? [ENDS 10/06/2012]

no........

Edited by Jordan (Forum Super Moderator): Please back up points made with an explanation!

If the prisoner can show a decent understanding of the policies and such, then go ahead, let them vote. Could probably be beneficial if they turn the decision to a more deserving party rather than just the opposite one.

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Originally Posted by GommeInc

It's not an important right, if it was they would already have it and desire it so much it would be inhuman for them not to have it. But as it's just some legal right plastered into the fabric of the Human Rights Act 1998, it isn't a basic human right. It's interesting it's mentioned in the Act of Parliament, but is never acted upon. That said, their care will always be looked after no matter who is in office. If they are punished, tortured or harmed in prison then their actual human rights will be breached, therefore the law would be broken and the Government would be committing a criminal act.

Saying they need the right to vote without evidence as to why is just as bad as saying they should not be allowed without explanation.


The right to vote :P I'm not sure on the specifics, but I think people who have been in prison can be voted into office. If they manage to get votes then there must be some public confidence so a law would seem unnecessary.

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well why are people saying about people in prison being voted in starting a new debate here lol.. .

MY VIEWS ARE PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE IF THEY ARE IN PRISON

and if your in prison you never should get elected

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Originally Posted by Andii

well why are people saying about people in prison being voted in starting a new debate here lol.. .

MY VIEWS ARE PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE IF THEY ARE IN PRISON

and if your in prison you never should get elected

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That's why we are debating :P There are reasons for and against, but no right answer :P

Why do you have these views? It's best to elaborate and contribute :) Besides, I think if an ex-prisoner is liked in the community and people want him to be elected then he should be. It's self-regulating. If a man stole a car, and after prison turned to great charity work and people liked him, then he will have a good public following. If a man murdered someone, it's unlikely he would ever be liked, because murder doesn't come up as a nice to see item :P

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Originally Posted by FlyingJesus

Interesting point that no-one seems to have picked up on - say that prisoners can vote if they can get to the polling stations. Since most prisoners have no freedom of movement this would cut a lot of them out of the voting while allowing lesser criminals (those in open prisons) to retain some sense of society, as is the point of open prisons anyway. It would also satisfy the EU's daft demand that voting be seen as a human right when it's clearly anything but.

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Well, Ex-Cons have more rights then a normal prisoner would...

No they shouldn't. I say bring back the olden days where prisoners were kept is rusty cells and were lucky to get out for a few hours. Nowadays they even have the access to xboxs and tvs

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Originally Posted by Richie

No they shouldn't. I say bring back the olden days where prisoners were kept is rusty cells and were lucky to get out for a few hours. Nowadays they even have the access to xboxs and tvs

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Agreed, it would make an example and act as a deterrent. It might work out a lot cheaper too :P

My instant reaction was simply NO and then thought about some of the crimes that will have been committed by prisoners. I considered murderers and rapists, crimes that would normally carry a more severe length of sentence, and my conclusion was still NO. They lost their freedom and their liberties the day they were sentenced for breaking the law. When you lose your liberties you no longer can go where you like, you are unable to just pop to the shops, or go for a long stroll when you can’t sleep. So why should they be allowed to go and vote if it’s not within reach? I realise booths and balloting boxes would be brought into prisons if they were allowed, and let’s not forget this would cost. Does anyone know what electoral roll they appear on?

Giving prisoners the right to vote makes a mockery of the justice system. Although I do believe our justice system is in need of being reformed. Life should mean life, and quite a few of the luxuries they enjoy should be removed.

I also think those whose sentences are short could be allowed a postal vote, since their crimes are most likely to be petty crime.

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Originally Posted by MissAlice

My instant reaction was simply NO and then thought about some of the crimes that will have been committed by prisoners. I considered murderers and rapists, crimes that would normally carry a more severe length of sentence, and my conclusion was still NO. They lost their freedom and their liberties the day they were sentenced for breaking the law. When you lose your liberties you no longer can go where you like, you are unable to just pop to the shops, or go for a long stroll when you can’t sleep. So why should they be allowed to go and vote if it’s not within reach? I realise booths and balloting boxes would be brought into prisons if they were allowed, and let’s not forget this would cost. Does anyone know what electoral roll they appear on?

Giving prisoners the right to vote makes a mockery of the justice system. Although I do believe our justice system is in need of being reformed. Life should mean life, and quite a few of the luxuries they enjoy should be removed.

I also think those whose sentences are short could be allowed a postal vote, since their crimes are most likely to be petty crime.

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What's also interesting is the idea of giving those who have committed petty crimes the vote. Those who commit such offenses get such little time in prison (counted in months and not years) that it is simply not worth changing the system to allow them to vote. If they moan about wanting the vote then they clearly should of considered not committing the crime so close to the elections and/or the day of voting :P

It's such an easy punishment which directs the blame to the prisoner for making such poor decisions so close to the vote, while also committing the crime as well.

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Originally Posted by GommeInc

What's also interesting is the idea of giving those who have committed petty crimes the vote. Those who commit such offenses get such little time in prison (counted in months and not years) that it is simply not worth changing the system to allow them to vote. If they moan about wanting the vote then they clearly should of considered not committing the crime so close to the elections and/or the day of voting :P

It's such an easy punishment which directs the blame to the prisoner for making such poor decisions so close to the vote, while also committing the crime as well.

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I don’t know enough about what is and isn’t allowed in prison, could it be those still registered on the electoral roll and serving short sentences already use the postal vote?