Should Prisoners Be Allowed To Vote?

[Deskdiary]

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/oct/29/government-planning-to-allow-some-prisoners-to-vote-european-court-human-rights

If the voting rights remain limited to prisoners with less than a year to serve, then I have no real issue with it (although I do wonder why they can't wait a year), but if the year starts to creep to be two years, and then five and so on, I would object.

There's no suggestion the time period will be amended to include longer term prisoners, but purely for the sake of the argument if it was, I would struggle with the idea of allowing people who have chosen to live outside of society's rules have a say in electing people whose job it is to make those rules.

[mikey4444]

TTT...they can try if they like !

[lindapalmara]

No. People who commit crimes against society should lose their citizens rights which includes voting. I expect Labour will be for it as they will most likely be voting Labour.

[Mamyalynne]

No one needs to correct or persuade anyone, we have been asked our opinions - will they differ? Yes.

[albaqwerty]

If someone has been tried and convicted of a crime, then they shouldn't be allowed to vote whilst serving their sentence. Whether it be inside or 'on tag'

Once sentence has been served, debt to society has been re-paid (aye, alba, as if !!) then if they choose to vote in an election, then they can do so.

[mikey4444]

Linda...balderdash.

[TWR]

Same as Maggie & NO.

[ToraToraTora]

I think not mikey, linda is correct, most crims will be Labour voters which is why Labour keep going on about it.

[lindapalmara]

Why does Mikey always have to put people down? I hope you have a mention in the book I am reading at the moment. It's called "Patronising b..tards.

A couple of weeks ago he said I was trying to stop free speech because I pointed out that Activists were intend on crowding round the Conservative party Conference centre banging pots and pans to drown out the speeches in the Hall!!!!

[mikey4444]

I seem to remember that both Archer and Aitken when to jail, and they probably voted Tory !

But many "crims" are illiterate, allthough that doesn't automatically make them natural Labour voters.

[woofgang]

I would agree with the day release AND less than a year scenario because that situation is intended to be a time when the person relearns how to fit into society and part of that is voting.

[TWR]

He's not the only one on this site that has the nice ability to do that Linda, keep looking.

[mikey4444]

Linda....I am not "putting you down" but merely disagreeing with what you said.

[Khandro]

mikey; //But many "crims" are illiterate, allthough that doesn't automatically make them natural Labour voters.//

No, but it helps. :0)

[lindapalmara]

Mikey, you were putting me down. Is it just women you do it to?

Isn't it snooty Officer types that use the word "Balderdash"

[vetuste_ennemi]

The ECHR hasn't gone far enough.

Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Article 3: Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

(Imprisonment gets the third bit right, but isn't too hot on the liberty bit.)

Article 4: No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

( http://prisonuk.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/forced-labour-and-slavery.html )

Article 5: No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

(Name ten reasons why being imprisoned is degrading.)

[bhg481]

When we moved into this area some 50 years ago we lived next door to someone whose father ran a small shop. He said his father had deliberately committed a small crime (something like not paying his rates) because that would eliminate him from doing jury service. (He couldn't afford to shut the shop or get someone to stand in for him). I don't know if this still applies or how long it was effective for but it does give a starting point for removing the right to vote for prisoners.

[mikey4444]

I am disagreeing with what you said Linda....if you don't want to debate a subject, then I suggest you don't post.

By the way, I am using a variety of different words on here, as some people thought that my use of "drivel" was becoming repetitive, and today's word is balderdash.

[TWR]

Vet, does that apply to Rapists, Murders, Low Life's that MUG THE ELDERLY?

[albaqwerty]

I have a vague memory from a few years back that a British prisoner appealed to the ECHR that his human rights had been removed as he was a prisoner and wasn't allowed to vote.

The court ruled that if he wanted to vote, don't be a criminal (or words to that effect)

[bhg481]

To paraphrase TWR's last comment, should people who choose to act in a non-human way still be eligible for protection under the human rights act?