Should prisoners have a vote?

[Kizzy]

Do you agree Britain should comply with the European Court of Human Rights, and give those serving prison sentences their right to vote?

[King Gizzard]

No, they've abused their human rights so they should be not allowed this one, and in some cases they have taken away the right to vote for someone else

[Livia]

No. It's one of the privileges they lose when they're convicted of a crime.

[Marcus.]

no they dont

[Redway]

It would depend on the crime but as a general rule, no. Would you seriously expect a murderer (for example) to be legible to vote?

[MTVN]

I think the main focus of prison should be rehabilitation and denying them the vote unnecessarily hinders that, if we say we live in a democracy where the people have the right to choose how we're governed then the state shouldn't be able to restrict that and pick and choose who can partake in it and who can't. There are a lot of prisoners who are very politically astute and it's fair that they be allowed the means to express that, your average prisoner isn't a crazed murderer or rapist or whatever, it's a normal human being who could have committed their crime for any number of reasons and should be given the support to be able to re enter society as a law abiding citizen; retaining their right to vote is a part of that

[the truth]

I would let them keep the vote. because every prisoners situation varies so enormously, some are murderers but some are there for not being able to pay their council tax or too many parking tickets....the new bill does put in an adendim to allow those with 6 months or less left to vote, so Id let them keep it, many wont bother voting anyway. I would also dare say, it would be too advantageous for the conservatives if prisoners dont get the right. as a larger proportion of prisoners are poorer people and therefore more labour voters by default

[King Gizzard]

I think the main focus of prison should be rehabilitation and denying them the vote unnecessarily hinders that, if we say we live in a democracy where the people have the right to choose how we're governed then the state shouldn't be able to restrict that and pick and choose who can partake in it and who can't. There are a lot of prisoners who are very politically astute and it's fair that they be allowed the means to express that, your average prisoner isn't a crazed murderer or rapist or whatever, it's a normal human being who could have committed their crime for any number of reasons and should be given the support to be able to re enter society as a law abiding citizen; retaining their right to vote is a part of that

a point well made but there are a lot of prisoners that will not learn and keep offending, however much rehabilitation you give them, it would be hard to differentiate between those who are responsible enough to vote and those that are not

[the truth]

a point well made but there are a lot of prisoners that will not learn and keep offending, however much rehabilitation you give them, it would be hard to differentiate between those who are responsible enough to vote and those that are not

exactly so why punish them all, when theres so much vast difference between them all? the worst prisoners will probably be too busy causing chaos to bother voting

[King Gizzard]

I think if you had to choose in that case it would have to be against letting them have the vote, there isn't time to decide whether someone is allowed to vote or not depending on their circumstances

Afterall they did commit a crime, no matter what their motivation

[the truth]

I think if you had to choose in that case it would have to be against letting them have the vote, there isn't time to decide whether someone is allowed to vote or not depending on their circumstances

Afterall they did commit a crime, no matter what their motivation
well I disagree. one blanket ban for all seems to harsh and also favour one political party over another. I dont see the point in this extra punishment. better to let them vote and keep an active interest in the country imo

[Vicky.]

I think the main focus of prison should be rehabilitation and denying them the vote unnecessarily hinders that, if we say we live in a democracy where the people have the right to choose how we're governed then the state shouldn't be able to restrict that and pick and choose who can partake in it and who can't. There are a lot of prisoners who are very politically astute and it's fair that they be allowed the means to express that, your average prisoner isn't a crazed murderer or rapist or whatever, it's a normal human being who could have committed their crime for any number of reasons and should be given the support to be able to re enter society as a law abiding citizen; retaining their right to vote is a part of that
I think the main focus of prison should be punishment tbh

[King Gizzard]

A mixture of both but punishment being more prominent

[Vicky.]

A mixture of both but punishment being more prominent

Yeah. Exactly.

[MTVN]

Rehabilitation tends to be more effective at reducing crime though, I don't see much point in punishment for the sake of punishment

[the truth]

yeah agreed a mixture of both. rehabilitation should take place within prison walls though, not out in the community.

[Vicky.]

Rehabilitation tends to be more effective at reducing crime though, I don't see much point in punishment for the sake of punishment

Its not punishment for the sake of punishment though, its punishment for comitting a crime.

[InOne]

For me it depends on the crime...

[thesheriff443]

no votes for lags

[GypsyGoth]

I don't think they should. If they want to take part in society, they should obey the laws of it.

[joeysteele]

I would say the loss of liberty due to a prison sentence warrants also a loss of privileges such as voting too for the time they are in prison.

My only problem is that I believe there are far too many people in prison for things which could be dealt with in other ways.
Anyone in prison for a violent crime and also for any physical violence against property/possessions too should not get a chance to vote though.

[Jordan.]

Yes we need Maloney in the final

[Roy Mars III]

Depends on the crime, or how much longer they are in prison for

[Jack_]

Yes on the whole but I don't see the benefits for those on life-sentences, whom will literally live their last days in prison?

But yes to the rest.

Its not punishment for the sake of punishment though, its punishment for comitting a crime.

Ah but 'tough' prisons just turn them into the University of Crime. No gain there whatsoever. You're only making hard criminals harder.

[Omah]

Keep it simple - No ..... :nono:

[the truth]

Keep it simple - No ..... :nono:

keep it simple, yes

[Omah]

keep it simple, yes

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

;)

[Mystic Mock]

No as that means you're basically giving them the same human rights as everybody else, if they want to vote then they shouldn't do the crime.

[Kate!]

Yes we need Maloney in the final

:eek: but :laugh:

I vote no, they should not retain the right to vote, it is a privilege and having committed a crime they don't deserve privileges or respect.

Having said that I accept that people are in prison for all sorts of reasons, I would maybe feel differently depending on the set of circumstances, for example in the case of Farmer Tony Martin who was imprisoned for defending his home from burglars. So a blanket ban could be argued against with validity and maybe such circumstances should be taken into account.
q
It's not a clear cut black or white issue for me, but on the whole I feel it is a no.

[joeysteele]

Also we have had miscarriages of justice too where people have spent years in prison but then were later cleared of the crimes, by the same token, they should never have had those privileges taken away from the anyway.

I think if the MPs when they vote are given the choice of giving the vote to people serving up to 6 months or up to 4 years or not at all. I think they should vote for not at all as I feel any votes given should be determined by the crimes they are in there not the length of time.

They will eventually have to give some prisoners votes back,It has been decided the UKs stance on this is against the Human rights of people and so some compromise even on the smallest scale will have to be done sometime in the near future.