Should prisoners be allowed to vote?
By Memnon
@Memnon (2170)
November 1, 2010 11:48pm CST
In 2005 the European Court of Human Rights ruled that it was in breach of a prisoner's human rights to deny them the ability to vote.
Now the government is reviewing UK legislation with a view to who will be allowed to vote.
Interestingly, one of the groups that could be excluded from voting are those imprisoned for non payment of debt. So you can vote if you rape someone, but not if you refuse to pay council tax. More proof that western society places more importance on capital than life.
What do you think about prisoners being able to vote?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
2 Nov 10
I think it's a bad idea.
At what point in life do you start to lose your rights? If it's not when you're in prison, then I don't know when.
1 person likes this
@Memnon (2170)
•
2 Nov 10
Absolutely true. If the UK fails to house a hate priest, his multiple wives and children, we are being racist. If I lose my job, have my house repossessed, and end up on the street the authorities will not find me lodging as I have no dependents. Oh that, and I was born in England, and I'm Christian: therefore as close to being an undesirable as possible in the UK.
No wonder Cherie Blair took so many HR cases- they are all funded by Legal Aid; so they can be appealed right the way through without 'the client' running out of funds. Gravy train.
@thommas (143)
• Latvia
2 Nov 10
The human rights is something a state decides us to assign or no to assign - they are not coming from the heaven.
If a state wishes to take them away for some reasons,then what can we do? Nothing. Because it's not our property, it's not anything "absolute", as people tend to consider.
As well it's in an opposite case, when the state devises to give these rights for the prisoners. Just an overturned situation.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
2 Nov 10
They contradict themselves. First they say that preventing them from voting is a basic human right, then they come up with their own exceptions.
The fact is, voting is NOT a basic human right. It is a right granted those who qualify under the law. They are two different things. For their decision to be correct, kids should be able to vote, Americans should be able to vote in European elections (and vise versa).
I don't think convicted criminals should be able to vote while they are serving their sentences, but the right should be restored the minute their sentences are up.
1 person likes this
@Memnon (2170)
•
2 Nov 10
I agree with you. Prison is supposed to be a punishment and an opportunity to rehabilitate.
It strikes me that prisoners have certain rights that I do not. The right to security (if they get beaten there is an investigation- if I do the police have more important matters to attend to. The right to accommodation and food- if I lose my home the support is minimal, especially if it's my own fault.
I earn less before deductions than it costs to house a prisoner in the UK. Our new Justice Secretary is now saying that they should work a 40-42 hour week, and rights groups are complaining that sounds like slave labour. I'm working 60 hours- mostly nights. A more apt punishment might be to leave them to work for a living instead of incarcerating them, with no chance of state benefits.
@joey_matthews (8354)
•
2 Nov 10
I saw it on the news on television today, but i don't think they should be able to vote though. They are in prison for doing a crime so why should they keep the right to vote... Any crime that puts you in prison must be classed as lost their right to vote whilst they are in there. They can vote when they get out so whats the need to vote while they are in there.
