Should Britain be forced to let criminals vote?

Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 6:00 am

WhiteViper wrote:

Politicians have little to do with the point of this thread..... there are some decent ones as well, although they are rare and never seem to get the attention they deserve. They are the only reason democratic politics still works despite the image of sheer insanity that surrounds it. As they lose influence the situation worsens.

Letting them vote and letting convicted criminals vote is hardly the same question. Unless the politicians happens to be a convicted criminals. Which happens too.

true, politicians and criminals are different animals despite what i would believe, but look at it this way, the English voting public would outnumber the criminal vote 10000 to 1 so what difference can it make?

Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 6:25 am

lndestructible wrote:

WhiteViper wrote:

Politicians have little to do with the point of this thread..... there are some decent ones as well, although they are rare and never seem to get the attention they deserve. They are the only reason democratic politics still works despite the image of sheer insanity that surrounds it. As they lose influence the situation worsens.

Letting them vote and letting convicted criminals vote is hardly the same question. Unless the politicians happens to be a convicted criminals. Which happens too.

true, politicians and criminals are different animals despite what i would believe, but look at it this way, the English voting public would outnumber the criminal vote 10000 to 1 so what difference can it make?

i do not think the reason is because if it will make a difference i think the point is if they should have the right?! my view is if your in jail you should be being punish'd not given civil rights, tv's and computers...... hence a no from me!

Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 8:15 am

Yes, incarceration represents a loss of rights. If we start returning those rights to incarcerated prisoners, we may as well not lock them up to start with. Many of them would likely just abuse the rights given them anyhow.

Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 2:46 pm

I wonder how the voting works in general for prisoners?

You vote were you live, right?

Nationwide & state votes wouldn't be a problem.
What about local election?

So if I am a prison voter in a small populated area,
lets go ballistic here, like Utah ...
Population 259, and the big prison holds 5,000 inmates.
If they vote locally for "the prison party" they could elect their sheriff, mayor etc.??

Anyone knows how that works?

#

Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 7:48 pm

PA3 wrote:

I wonder how the voting works in general for prisoners?

You vote were you live, right?

Nationwide & state votes wouldn't be a problem.
What about local election?

So if I am a prison voter in a small populated area,
lets go ballistic here, like Utah ...
Population 259, and the big prison holds 5,000 inmates.
If they vote locally for "the prison party" they could elect their sheriff, mayor etc.??

Anyone knows how that works?

#

Having been on probation for a few years, but still a felon, I can't vote yet. However, in my state (Florida, USA), general expunge-ment isn't necessary to get voting rights back, but only an expensive lawyer, an appeal, and/or a cheap judge. I don't think people in jail, prison, parole, or felony probation should be allowed to vote, until their sentence is over. Once their sentence is over, they should be allowed to vote again. Also, I believe that non-violent felons should be allowed to more easily pursue their Second Amendment rights, and sooner that the standard eight years it takes to file an appeal for gun rights now.

Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 6:57 am

Crooked_Ferret wrote:

Yes, incarceration represents a loss of rights. If we start returning those rights to incarcerated prisoners, we may as well not lock them up to start with.

That's exactly what I think.

Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 7:20 pm

Thought I would post this video as it shows clearly why I think this idea is such a joke.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/8105570/Prisoner-votes-killer-John-Hirst-celebrates-with-champagne-and-a-spliff.html

Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 12:27 pm

I live in Ireland, and as you may or may not be aware we are currently awaiting a general electon on the 25th of this month. This very topic as been widely debated on talk shows over the last few days.

In Ireland a prisoner maintains his/her right to vote regardless of the crime. To provide a polling station in all of our prisions on the 25th is going to cost the tax payer €450k.

I personally don't belive that prisoners should have aright to vote. afterall isn't the point of prision about removing the civil liberties of the guilty.

I do however belive that once released from prison they should regain their rights to the full extent of the constitution including the right to vote. Once released they are deemed to have repaid their debt to society and as such should be allowed to reintergrate to society fully.

EDIT oh and just to address the question of forcing Britain to allow them to vote. Absolutley not. Europe should not be able to dictate to member states on what rights they give the guilty in prison.

Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 2:40 pm

I feel the same way as High4life.
If you are in prison you are in for a reason not for acting as a normal human so you have given up you rights. They are maby still in prison but I think the have too much rights. As for th EU they should have no right to tell the UK how to treat its prisoners. Why not give the prisoners a holiday over in some of the Arab prisons and see how they like it there. I dont think most of the UK prisoners care if they get the vote but the Lawers want to fight for it WHY? Dont think any Lawer whould be in there if there wasent loads of money to be made, fight for the prisoners rights ? What right has the ordeaey person to protect his own property. You see how many have been done in the last couple of years when their house has been broken into and the burgler gets hurt, he shouldnt have been there in the first place but still has more rights than you.
NO VOTE FOR PRISONERS
Cheers

Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 1:18 pm

As prisoners havent conformed to general society..ie law abiding ...then No Vote.

Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 3:27 pm

Let's give them a vote and then let them rape our leaders in thinking... where have I dropped my soap?

Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 3:42 pm

i remember hearing this and remember how disgusted i was. im sure most of us have broke the law in one way or another but if your inside you are there for a serious reason so no way you should be able to vote. fkn eu and there pc bullshit...we should never listen, it costs us millions to be in it and most of the laws are completely barmy!!
i dont vote anyway...as stated in another thread they are all the same, lying smug tossers who only talk