YES They Should!!!!!!

Some are good they just made a mistake, so why shouldn't they decide on their future when they come out? If they don't vote it would be very unfair. After all, they are human no matter what they have done they are still British citizens. They have human rights and two wrongs doesn't make a right! If you do let them vote, when they come out they will probably not commit to a crime or break the law because they respect their prime minister! They have their rights and we have ours too! They should because its like saying you cant play this board game because you cheated in one 10 years ago! Report Post Like Reply01 YES In regards to the person's statement saying "they broke the law, therefore they don't deserve the law" argument... if that is the case, do you suggest that we don't provide them with lawyers, judges, jury, etc. in which to try and convict them? Your argument suggests that we should simply throw people in jail, swallow the key, and let them rot. This, while these people may violated human rights and law, deserve the equal right to be judged under our culturally unique system of law... and pay for their crimes dearly. Posted by: prouditalian2003 Report Post Like Reply Challenge00 Yes prisoners should be allowed to vote I don't see why just because someone did something so wrong they got locked up for it, that suddenly they have to be shut out from overall society because of that. I think they should still be allowed a say in what goes on in things around them for when they'd get out if they were going to, even if from a jail cell. They still should have a voice in my opinion. So yes I do think prisoners should be allowed to vote, I don't have a problem with it. Report Post Like Reply00 Yes they should They should be allowed to vote because they are still part of society. Okay so yes they broke the law but if they get to vote and give their opinion then they will feel that they are part of the community. I just think that its not all that fair for some people to be excluded from voting. Also in the constitution it says that everyone has equal rights so if we don't allow prisoners to vote then we are breaking the constitution. Report Post Like Reply00 Yes they should! The argument that they have done bad to society so they shouldn't vote is invalid because voting is a right and taking away a right is simply breaking the constitution. Also, the prisoners

feel they are robbed of their rights and that they dont get to express their political opinion, so why not let them vote it how would it possibly hurt anyone. Report Post Like Reply00 Yes this is one right they should have Prisoners have committed a crime and need to be punished for it. However they are still part of society and likely will be a full part in the years to come. Part of the government job is to run the prison system so it makes sense that prisoners should get to vote. Report Post Like Reply00 It's A Right. -They become more involved with the community and/or the nation's standings in politics. Involvement is good. -It could directly effect them IN prison and/or when/if they get OUT. By changing the government's leaders it can change the political system drastically. -It's a right in a democracy. We as a nation are a representative democracy. -It's not hurting anybody. -Just because they are in jail doesn't mean they don't care. It doesn't necessarily affect their political aspects. -Uninformed citizens are able to vote. Report Post Like Reply00 Of course they should! They didn't bother to follow our rules, but that really doesn't matter. It doesn't matter because their voting on the president, not a new law. When the founding fathers made our Constitution and Bill of Rights, they said that it's an unalienable right that we can vote no matter what. So who's going to argue with them? Whites, blacks, women, and gays can vote; so why not prisoners? Report Post Like Reply00 For criminals voting: The fact they were sent to jail shouldn't affect their political aspects. Voting is one of your basic human rights. Convicts already lose their rights of obtaining certain licenses, such as a visa, exclusion from purchase and possession of firearms, ammunition and body armor and may be deported. These rights are only taken away be they my put more people in danger. Voting, does not put people in danger so why should it be banned. If we what to get convicts back on their feet we should give back the

rights that make them human. Doing a crime does not change you from being a human. So why should we take away that right, does it harm anyone? I understand perfectly why ex-prisoners are not allowed to own firearms or obtaining particular licenses but as I stated early voting is not directly dangerous so I propose we allow convicts to vote. When the election comes up their voting could make a difference in who gets elected. We are a democracy. Just because they have committed a crime does not mean their voting rights should be taken away. Prisoners want the chance to vote. The opposition may argue that politicians may get more votes by appealing to the inmates. Some prisoners have families outside of prison so why shouldn't they get a say on who is in charge of the country. Are we a democracy or a dictatorship? Report Post Like Reply00 Restricting voting creates dangerous incentives. If we allow certain groups to be disenfranchised this can be used to benefit certain political parties, who would then have incentives to either widen the criteria for disenfranchisement or somehow transfer citizens from the groups with voting rights to the groups without, for instance by criminalizing additional behaviours that they might not have chosen to criminalize otherwise. Also, voting rights are derived from the assumption that everyones interests shall be given equal consideration. Restricting voting rights would contradict the very assumption on which they are based. Posted by: nordmarj Report Post Like Reply Challenge00

Why Should We? I mean, if they were released from prison like, 50 years ago, it would be okay, but if they were just released from prison, then it is a bad idea. Voting is a adult privilege, not a right. And if you did a wrong deed, then you have just revoked your right to vote. Report Post Like Reply00 No, No, No Convicted prisoners have had their right to freedom revoked by not following the regulations their society has put in place. They should not then have say in how that society is governed. They must realise that those are the consequences of their offence & perhaps will think again before re-offending once freed and readmitted into society, including the right to vote being reinstated. Posted by: gmc Report Post Like Reply Challenge00

Why should they be allowed to vote? I don't think they have a right to vote at all. They have lost all their rights when they were incarcerated. They shouldn't get to decide on who we have elected. They didn't bother to follow the rules of our country, so why should they get to vote? Voting isn't a human right either, and they decision should be made by responsible citizens Posted by: AFridley Report Post Like Reply Challenge10 Nope, they don't deserve to. By breaking the law they forfeit their right to vote on who should decide future laws. Also, if you commit a bad enough crime to get into prison then your judgement is obviously pretty bad, and you shouldn't be helping to decide the well-being of the country. It's not like its taking away their right to food and shelter or anything, so I personally think they can survive pretty well without voting. Report Post Like Reply00 Unlike access to food, shelter, medical aid, an education, justice and protection Voting is not a human right. It is an adult civic one. If it was a human right we would let children vote as well. It must be remembered that with the exception of rare miscarriages of justice, prison is a voluntary institution. For the vast majority the entry requirement is that they seriously or repeatedly abuse other peoples rights. In the case of murder than would involve permanent removal of all rights of the victim. Prisoners must have human rights but not civic ones, they have already proven themselves unfit for civil life. I think the categorisation of voting as a human right makes the same error as as when UN officials recategorised alcoholism as a disease. This was done with the intention of raising its profile with Governments, but instead it made addicts into innocent victims, and as victims they could more easily avoid responsibilty. The trap was deepened. Saying voting is a human right is making prisoners into victims, and suddenly they are very concerned about rights. Hypocrisy is disgusting. Posted by: fair-life Report Post Like Reply Challenge00 NO they should not No criminals are in prison because they think that things are acceptable when they are not. Do you really want these people shaping the future of our country. All a party has to do is make prison sentences shorter and boom suddenly they get all the prisoners votes. This is a ridiculous idea they do not have the right to freedom so nothing the government do affects them, unless it is to do with prisons . Report Post Like Reply00

They don't deserve to Voting is a part of representative democracy. Why would you want someone making decisions who represents the interests of people who commit an offence that is serious enough to warrant imprisonment? While voting is a right, just like freedom of expression it is not an absolute right. I cannot shout "fire" in a crowded theatre because it adversely affects everyone else, for the same reasons convicted criminals should not be able to vote. Posted by: kiwinz Report Post Like Reply Challenge00 They shouldn't be allowed to vote By committing a crime they demonstrated that they have zero respect for the law or the democratic process. So what right do they have to take part in it? Obviously once the sentence is over they should be given a second chance, but if they have no respect for the law they should have no influence over it. Report Post Like Reply10 It should depend on the sentence. If someone has bee sentence to 10 years in prison they don't really need to care about the country. Instead politions can use them to their advantage and bribe them into voting. These prisoner would go as low as for a pack of cigarettes. When people go to prison they gight to survive in their because as you know, prison isnt a happy place. Report Post Like Reply10 No They lost the privilege of voting when they went to jail. The law clearly states that if you head to the slammer you can't vote. Criminals should have thought about that when they were charged with grand theft or murder. Prisoners shouldn't be allowed to vote. That's what I think. Posted by: Bolso18 Report Post Like Reply Challenge10

Prisoners, Like Immigrants, Have Limited Rights in America By accepting jail terms, prisoners realize their rights in a normal society have been taken away. Prisoners are there for a reason--they infringed upon the rights of someone else. It doesn't matter the reason why a criminal is locked up. When they impede the rights of another person, their rights should be limited. One of the rights should be the right to vote. Posted by: williambrowning Report Post Like Reply Challenge10

No Voting In Prisons No, prisoners should not be allowed to vote. If someone is in prison, that means they have been convicted of a punishable crime. Since they disregarded societys laws, they should not be allowed to take part in any of the benefits of society while in prison. A prison sentence is a punishment. This should also mean that while in prison, all privileges should be suspended. This should include the right to vote. Report Post Like Reply10N.B. Following the debate there will be a vote on the motion. If it passes (more MSYPs voting Agree than Disagree), a further vote will be held to give us a clear policy position on which prisoners should be given the right to vote whether MSYPs think all prisoners or only those who are serving a sentence of six months or less should be allowed to vote. At the bottom of this page is more information about how the voting will work.

Key arguments in favour:

Voting is a fundamental right of all citizens, even if they are in prison. In most democratic European countries, at least some prisoners have the right to vote. Allowing prisoners to vote helps with their reintegration into society. The UK could face claims for compensation from prisoners if it keeps the current blanket ban.

Key arguments against:

Prisoners have broken societys laws and shouldnt have a say in how new laws are made. Prison should be a punishment, and the right to vote is a privilege. It will reduce the pride in voting for law-abiding citizens The issue isnt of interest to the public the only reason its being discussed is because of the European Court of Human Rights.

This issue has hit the headlines in recent months following activity at Westminster on this issue. Currently, the UK bans anyone serving a prison sentence from voting in elections or referendums. The

UK Government, as well as other major parties wants to maintain this, arguing that the right to vote is a privilege which should be given up as part of prisoners punishment for their crime.

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the UKs position (a blanket ban, regardless of the length of sentence or seriousness of the crime) does not comply with universal human rights. Their view is that prisoners still keep their very basic human rights and that denying every prisoner the right to vote is illegal they believe that whilst it might be possible to stop prisoners voting for the most serious crimes, this cant be enforced on every single prisoner without exceptions. In most European countries, at least some prisoners have the right to vote click here for more info about the situation abroad.

The UK has a legal obligation to comply with the rulings of the Court, and as a result a Bill is being brought before Parliament with a series of options which could see some prisoners being given the right to vote. MPs are expected however to vote to continue the blanket ban, despite a risk of sanctions against the UK and compensation pay-outs to Prisoners Should be Able to Vote Prisoners are citizens too. They may have committed a felony, but they are still citizens of their home country. Some people think prisoners should not have the right to vote, but many others think they should. About two million people in U.S. are in prison. All those people do not get to cast a vote in the election. They are not able to decide who runs the country they live in. Imagine not being able to have a say in our country. We are a democracy, which means everyone has the right to vote in our government. Prisoners should be allowed to vote because they still are citizens and still have rights. Prisoners should be able to vote and influence the outcome of an election . If all the prisoners were allowed to vote it may have an impact on the election. Prisoners want the chance to vote. As of February 2011 the United States was in the lead of number of prisoners with 2,019,234. Prisoners do not have a say in the government. In New York people who are on parole cannot vote. As of 2004 thirty-five states forbid people who have just been released from prison to vote. In the constitution it states everyone is given the right to vote. Amendment 15 is the voting rights act. In the first section of this amendment, it states the right to vote cannot be taken away from people based on their color, race, or what has happened previously in their life. That amendment is not being applied to the rights of prisoners. Only two states, Vermont and Maine, let everyone vote without ever stripping away rights(Robin Coe, Prisoners Voting Rights ehow.com). In Vermont the voting laws are you have to be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Vermont, has taken voters oath, and 18 years or older to vote, this means that prisoners can vote there. In the second section it states that congress is supposed to enforce the first one. In 47 states prisoners cannot vote; in Maine an incarcerated person is allowed to vote. Congress has only protected this amendment in two states. We are a democracy. In a democracy everyone has a say in the government. The voting rules are different for prisoners in each state. In some states prisoners voting rights have to be restored. In South Dakota felons must serve their full term of incarceration, parole, or probation before they are allowed to

register to vote. In Washington, felons have to wait to be off parole to be able to vote. In some states, prisoners cannot get their voting rights back once they have left prison if they have committed a very serious crime. In Alabama, most felons have to apply to get their voting rights back, but if the felon committed a very serious crime like a murder, or treason they cannot get their rights back. In Delaware no matter what crime a felon may have committed they have to wait five years before they can vote, but if they committed murder, manslaughter, or abuse they have their voting rights permanently taken away. In Mississippi, when felons commit murder, theft, arson, bribery, carjacking and more they are banned from voting , but they can go to their state representative and convince him/her why they should be able to vote. Taking away prisoners voting rights even after they have been released is unfair. Two million people are in prison. Thats a lot of people who cannot have a say, plus all the felons that have been released but are not able to vote. Those people cannot choose who runs their government. Prisoners should be able to vote because they are citizens and they do have an influence on who would be elected. Those 2 million people would make a difference. When the election comes up their voting could make a difference in who gets elected. We are a democracy. Everyone has a say in government. Just because they have committed a crime does not mean their voting rights should be taken away. Posted by: mk91393 Report Post Like Reply Challenge01 First define reason of detainment I think a counter discussion is "is the criminal system efficient?"

Many would argue no it is not. Criminality can be due to lack of education, lack of state responsibility, lack of parental leadership, lack of so many things. I can also be simply bad luck depending on the case.

By immediate entrance to the legal system the mistake is that you are no longer accepted in society by your peers, hence not allowed to vote? Its pretty cold to even assume your incareration is justified to begin with.

Even in the case of a convicted mass murderer who for some reason has escaped capital punishment. If his opinion doesnt count, what threat does a statistical minority represent to the status quo anyway? why not accept the vote anyway?

i would wager if the penal system becomes larger than the populace, you have a serious problem. which again points to revising the criminal system, not preventing them the ability to vote. considering so few americans vote to begin with, the issue at hand is not the important one.

Posted by: Paz Report Post Like Reply Challenge01 There are certain inalienable rights that should never be removed The threshold for what is and what is not a crime is always changing, especially in countries like the UK where there is no written constitution and where every 5 years the new government changes laws in line with its ideology. You could be imprisoned for protesting against the government in the UK. Removing the right to vote from this sort of 'political prisoner' would bring us closer to the way totalitarian regimes operate. Report Post Like Reply11 Prisoners should be treated as citizens regardless of their status. Many nations treat prisoners as having the same citizenship status as those who are not in prison. This makes sense because if prisoners are not able to voice an opinion in their government or community, they have even less reason to be reintegrated after their sentence ends. By excluding them from the basic right of participating in governance, it adds further to an already significant disconnect with fellow citizens. Posted by: E Olson Report Post Like Reply01 Prison is about rehabilitation. They give you food and water there, why not voting rights? Prisoners are still human and should not be restricted of their humanitarian rights. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has estimated that at least 200,000 were excluded from taking part in the 2000 presidential election. Thats a lot of people that cannot voice their opinion. Posted by: lockkeddupp Report Post Like Reply Challenge00 I do feel that prisoners should have the right to vote. I feel that prisoners should have the right to vote. I do not see the reasoning behind revoking a person's voting rights because the government sees it necessary to incarcerate them for any number of reasons. They are still a citizen and should be able to decide who is elected into office just as anyone else would. Posted by: TickoCa22 Report Post Like Reply00 Unless we admit to being hypocritical when we speak of "rehabilitating" prisoners, we must admit them back into the mainstream of acceptable social activities, including the right to vote. More than one out of every 30 Americans is either in prison or on probation.

We must do something with "those people." We should perhaps also keep in mind that the illegal acts of "those people" range from mass murderers to college students caught with a little too much grass.

Prisoner "management" can range from some third world nations, where prisoners are branded on the face, to some industrialized nations, where the families of law-breakers, victims of the crimes, and prisoners are brought together and means are found to bring the prisoners back into society in constructive and well-controlled ways.

It seems unlikely that "universal" prisoner voting right can be granted until and unless we decide, as a world community, just how we view law-breakers.

Suppose we decide that we want prisoners everywhere to have voting rights. How could we implement such a decision? Is this even logistically possible in America? Should we allow ALL prisoners to vote, or only non-violent crimes? But what about plea bargaining --violent crimes are plea bargained down to non-violent crimes.

Yes, if we want prisoners to become productive citizens, they should have the right to vote. No, it is unlikely that this will happen. Posted by: CI3Iike Report Post Like Reply00 I believe every American should be able to vote, regardless if they are in prison. Prisoners are just Americans that made mistakes, no matter the offense. That is why they call prisons "correctional facilities". They should still have a voice, even if they do not have their freedom. One day, they will be out, and should be able to live just as free as the next man. Posted by: Elliot Maxwell Report Post Like Reply00 It would provide a countervailing force to mandatory sentencing and poor prison conditions. If there weren't abominations like mandatory minimum sentencing and prison rape, I would probably say no, but these conditions need to be addressed. I remember reading a study where a mock sentencing reform commission was created, with the hypothesis that a commission would pass lighter sentences than the public at large or the legislators beholden to them. It turned out that they were wrong. The commission actually passed worse sentences. There needs to be a counterweight to overkill in sentencing and the poor conditions prisoners enduring while serving them.

Posted by: 54uIIan Report Post Like Reply00 Yes, prisoners do not give up their basic human rights just by committing a crime. Convicted criminals do not give up all of their basic human rights just by being convicted. Convicts are still entitled to food and shelter, etc. The right to vote is critical to what a democracy is all about and everyone should have the opportunity to participate. Just because you are a convict does not mean that you give up all of your rights to the state. Posted by: R43Shep Report Post Like Reply00

Yes prisoners should be able to vote Prisoners are U.S. citizens and they have just as much a right as one. You are making them someone other than a citizen by taking their U.S. right to vote for who sits in the president's chair. The people who believe no are just mad because prisoners would take up a minor space in the U.S Presidential vote. Report Post Like Reply00 We pay taxes and if they work they pay the taxes too. They should vote. Human Rights and the Strasburg Court both ruled that Britain must bring its laws in line with the rest of Europe on this issue, but today I was appalled to hear David Cameron so proudly proclaim his contempt for those courts' rulings. 1. I believe everyone should have the right to vote in a democracy. Democracy means the 'rule of the people'. I strongly believe that should include all adults. I can understand there might be some justification for disenfranchising people who are so mentally deficient that they could be unduly manipulated into voting a certain way, and the same of course applies to children. Report Post Like Reply10 Equality! Prisoners are people too. Democracy means EVERYONE gets to have their say, regardless of the fact that they're criminals. It's unfair to discriminate against criminals and not allow them have their say. We don't discriminate against anyone else from voting, and not allowing those who are incarcerated is immoral and threatens the democratic principles we pride ourselves on. Posted by: ashermacleod Report Post Like Reply Challenge00

It's fascist not to allow prisoners to vote Simply put, any government should reflect the whole of society, if society is producing criminals through social policy leading to I creased unemployment and poverty, then surely, in a democracy, the least amongst us who are caught up in the system should have the right to voice their opinions and cast a vote. Report Post Like Reply00 prisoners rights!! I think that prisoners should have the right to vote because they are a person of the united states. Just because they are in prison does not change their right to vote. I think the people that think prisoners should not vote are scared that their vote might change something. There vote might change something, but it might be a good change. Report Post Like Reply00 Prisoners votes count How do you measure a man, by his past convictions? or by his future aspirations? If everyone deserves a second chance when they fail, then everyone deserves to vote. Voting is the fundamental basis of our government system, but if not all citizens are allowed to vote than we have no government at all. Prisoners should not be barred from voting.

The 15th amendment states, The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state... (U.S. Constitution), yet nearly 1% of eligible voters are barred from the ballot. Now 1% may sound small but its actually millions of U.S. citizens. Those millions of voters that are unconstitutionally being rejected the vote could potentially change the outcome of the election. Voting in the United States in a Right not a privilege, so the government cannot choose who can and who cant vote.

In order for a government that is built on elected officials to work then every citizen must have the right to vote. You cant keep millions of people from voting just because the current laws dont work for them. If the laws aren't working for the citizens than they deserve the right to vote for the politicians that will make changes that better our great country to keep our citizens out of prison. Someday when the prisoners complete their sentence than the laws need to make sense and work for everyone to keep them from returning to prison. Most of them are good people that have just simply made a mistake that caught up with them, but they are still American citizens and they deserve to vote no matter what theyve done in their past, because voting is about changing the future not changing the past. voting is about bettering our country for the good of all. Thus, all citizens including prisoners have the right to vote.

Posted by: jklaidfsjgj Report Post Like Reply Challenge00 Anyone has the right to vote Anyone has the right to vote regardless of your status. I feel that prisoners should have the right to vote. I do not see the reasoning behind revoking a person's voting rights because the government sees it necessary to incarcerate them for any number of reasons. They are still a citizen and should be able to decide who is elected into office just as anyone else would. Report Post Like Reply00 Why David Cameron should abide by European law I heard today on the radio David Cameron assuring us that "prisoners are not getting the vote under this government."

I wasn't in fact aware that prisoners couldn't vote in the UK until late last year when the issue was in the news. But now I am aware of it I find it unacceptable. I was pleased that both the European Court of Human Rights and the Strasburg Court both ruled that Britain must bring its laws in line with the rest of Europe on this issue, but today I was appalled to hear David Cameron so proudly proclaim his contempt for those courts' rulings.

1. I believe everyone should have the right to vote in a democracy. Democracy means the 'rule of the people'. I strongly believe that should include all adults. I can understand there might be some justification for disenfranchising people who are so mentally deficient that they could be unduly manipulated into voting a certain way, and the same of course applies to children, but I fail to see the justification for disenfranchising anyone else.

2. Voting is a good thing. The more people who vote the better. Also, it is not primarily a right to some 'good' like the right to healthcare or to justice or to education; it is more of a duty and a responsibility. One votes because one cares about the community one is a part of. (Even someone who votes out of anger and hatred is still motivated by a desire to protect a community he cares about from those he is voting against.) I fail to see what can be achieved by preventing prisoners from playing this important part in society.

3. I believe in the rule of law. For a prime minister to openly flout the law in this way is very worrying indeed. It makes me wonder in what other situations he might think himself above the law. I am

reminded of that famous statement of Richard Nixon's: "Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal."

4. Breaking the law in this way, and denying prisoners their legal rights is likely to lead to prisoners being (quite rightly) awarded compensation by the courts. I don't think anyone really wants it to come to that.

5. If a category of people is disenfranchised in this way it puts the validity of election results in doubt. It makes elections that little bit less 'free and fair'. Someone can always claim that prisoners are more likely to vote Labour (for example) and that denying prisoners votes is a way to unfairly skew an election result in favour of the Conservatives. In the USA, which seems to be the only other major country where 'prisoner disenfrachisement' is practiced routinely (not sure about China) it is often claimed (says Wikipedia) that this is ade facto racist policy, as proportionately more blacks are convicted of felonies. Better I think to not lay oneself open to such charges.

6. The rest of Europe allows prisoners to vote and it isn't even an issue in those countries as far as I am aware.

Like the vast majority of Europeans I frankly don't understand what all the outrage is about, and I don't remember ever having heard David Cameron (or anyone else) explain why prisoners shouldn't have the vote. He appears to think the reason is so self-evident that he doesn't need to make the case for it. I just hope he can be made to see reason and that he has not 'boxed himself into a corner' on this issue. Posted by: paulgato Report Post Like Reply Challenge00 They might support a corrupt MP There might be a secret criminal organisation with an mp leader who is rebel and if they all vote maybe we will have a dictatorship or they might use their anger to make the wrong descision. Also they should be stripped of all priveleges. IE to vote and other important priveleges Report Post Like Reply00 Prisoners Should be allowed to vote Prisoners should be allowed to vote because they are citizens along as the rest if the public and they have rights. Prisoners go to jail to lose their liberty; not their identity. In

South America prisoners are allowed to vote and they are humans as well and human rights should be given to all prisoners in the world. If some countries allow their prisoners to vote why not others? Report Post Like Reply00 Well it depends (im on the fence) I think prisoners who are serving a sentence of 12 months or less should have a right to vote. I think by giving them this right it still makes them feel part of society and when they are released from prison. They will be in the same mind set and continue to vote. Resulting in making a positive change and contribution to society. But for prisoners who are serving a lengthy sentence I dont see the point of them voting. Although they were members of society once. I feel the changes voting brings on the outside will have little impact on them in their daily lives. Report Post Like Reply00 The election will still affect them regardless. Prisoners should be allowed to vote because the result of the election will still affect them. The result of the election will make a difference in their lives, such as the vote on Scottish independence in 2014. Furthermore, saying that they have lost the right because they are bad people is flawed as people are imprisoned because they have done a bad thing, not because they are bad themselves. In conclusion, prisoners should be allowed to vote because it affects them and they are not necessarily bad. Report Post Like Reply00 They are Canadians too Even if they are prisoners, not all of them have done something horrid. They are citizens just like the rest of us and including their votes could greatly change the outcome of an election. Also, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms says that all citizens have the right to vote, and they are technically citizens. Report Post Like Reply00 They should be able to. It is one of the immediate rights as a citizen. This is a free country, so we should be able to have free speech, even if we are imprisoned. Just because you did one thing wrong, doesn't mean you shouldn't be heard! If you get a bad grade in school, you aren't just kicked out! Report Post Like Reply00

They Deserve To Be Heard They are rightfully American citizen, and have a voice they want to use. It is one of their immediate rights. They may have commuted crime but they've already been punished, not being allowed to vote is not part of the punishment. Being deprived of rights is wrong and no one deserves that. Report Post Like Reply00 They have learned their lesson in jail. They already served all their time in prison. Also they go to prison to get better and they should get their rights back after they serve their time that means all of their rights including the right to vote and bear arms. Thats why they should get the right to vote. Report Post Like Reply00 Prisoners should be aloud to vote Voting is a basic human right and taking away that right is taking a right that makes them human. I understand why the right of having a firearm is banned is you're a convict, because it's dangerous. But voting does not harm anyone so why must the right be taken away? Report Post Like Reply00 Constition all needed to be said I mean just because somebody lost their sanity and ended up breaking a law does not mean that they need to loose the right to vote look at the original constitution every man has the right to vote every man has the right to bear arms I know that all the laws have been messed with but I mean look if convicts vote the tolls will be much higher Report Post Like Reply00 There is no plausible reason to deny right to vote It would be a breach of prisoner's other rights as well, because no where does it state under either UDHR, ECHR or even HRA of 1998 that being a prisoner makes you any less of a human. So all your human rights, other than liberty, will still be protected. Most importantly, not all criminals are in jail for heinous crimes. You might be in jail before your conviction. Most of the countries allow prisoners to vote anyway. They are sane human beings, and should have a say in choosing their government in a purely democratic environment. Report Post Like Reply00

Who are we to decide what rights be should and shouldn't loose? To say no to this, is to take away their right. First you must ask yourself, 'What have they been imprisoned for?' On the most part prisoners' crimes have nothing to do with politics and voting. If you steal a TV how does that mean that you should then loose the right to vote? They have nothing in common. Losing the right to vote should be assigned to the specific case and determined by a judge or jury. I do appreciate some criminals have taken people's rights away so they should loose rights too but who are we to decide what rights they should and shouldn't lose. They still have the right to security, no torture, no slavery and so why should't they have the right to vote. The right to no torture and the right to vote will, in most cases, have the same amount of relevance to most criminal cases. Yet one is taken away and the other isn't. Whilst what rapists have done is terrible how does that relate to the right to vote? What I am saying is that the right to vote should not be taken away automatically when you go to prison but it should be decided per case and that the right to vote generally has the same amount of relevance as many other rights. Posted by: OliOat Report Post Like Reply Challenge00 Yes the Should! Prisoners are already being punished for their crime. By taking away their voting rights, prisoners are being punished once again. Punishment is supposed to fit the crime, and no one should be punished for life because of one mistake. This seems to say that because one makes a mistakes, he or she is no longer fit to be a trustworthy and law-abiding citizen, that he or she should have no say-so in his or her own life from then on. This is not a fair punishment. Posted by: ShayT Report Post Like Reply Challenge00 They shouldn't have their rights taken away from them Prisoners may have done crimes that created chaos and pain in society but that is why they were punished with a sentance. We can't take their basic human rights away from them just because in our eyes they seem as unfit. 60 years ago it was seen as unfit for women to vote but then we realized how ignorant it is to make that decision. This is the same thing, they are human beings to and equal to everyone else. Report Post Like Reply00 Prisoners Are Still Citizens Prisoners have the ability to say they are a citizen of the country, why should they lose their right to vote like the rest of us? Most prisoners had horrible actions that landed them their but they deserve the right to have a say on who runs the country regardless if they are in prison or not. Report Post Like Reply00

Why Shouldn't They? To say that because they committed a crime they shouldn't get a vote is ridiculous! Yes, there are consequences involved in being arrested but not being able to vote shouldn't be one. Look at articles 10 and 11 of the human rights act 'Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers.' To deny them the vote, is to say that anything that happens in prison is there fault for committing the crime. PEOPLE CHANGE. Everyone has a right to their own opinion. Report Post Like Reply10 But why not? A lot of criminal activity occurs due to high unemployment rates. And believe it or not you make your countrymen poor, they will go mental, and it would be partially the government's and the president's fault. Now for the sake of their friends' and sons' and families' future they might want to vote and change the current government to avoid the future generations from making the same mistakes they did. At the end of the day the government plans out your life not the individuals, lets look at it more realistically. I am Report Post Like Reply00 Because it is discrimination Sapientia necessaria est, discendi wisdom is necessary for learning

The first question we need to ask ourselves what is a criminal? The answer is a person that has somehow broken the law due to struggles with the rules of society; to elaborate, a simple fact shows that crime is common among the lower income class, the people who are hit the hardest by the government's policies. And if the intention of justice system is to rehabilitate the individual. I ask you, what better way than to engage him in the political process so that he can believe and conform to the institution of the country There are many encyclopaedias and studies that clearly state, and I quote Prison encourages the personal reform of those who are sent to prison This is evidence directly supporting the heart of my point and therefore these prisoners should have an authorized say in the future of their country and their lives.

Rights and codes

Prisoners should be Able to Vote, Prisoners are citizens. They may have committed a felony, but they are still citizens of their home country and yet all those people do not get to cast a vote in the election. Imagine not being able to have a say in our/your country. We are a democracy, which means everyone has the right to vote in our government. Prisoners should be allowed to vote because they still are citizens and still have rights. In the US, the constitution states that everyone is given the right to vote. Amendment 15 is the voting rights act. In the first section of this amendment, it states the right to vote cannot be taken away from people based on their colour, race, or what has happened previously in their life. That amendment is not being applied to the rights of prisoners. And why not Because its the life long plague of the criminal discrimination. Once a criminal, for whatever reason people will not grant you youre due opportunities and lawful rights. It is for all intents and purposes a scar that will forever brand you in a lower society that will prejudice you life and make people look upon you as if you were a chthonic, primal, bestial creature. And this is a predisposed wrongful judgment - for reasons, I am sure we call all contribute and to.

A growing number of countries and states have been noticing the differences and the resultant consequences of these factors, have decided to reinstate and restore the voting rights. To summarise Prisoners are at the bottom of the social scale, but how they are treated is a judgement on the rest of us. They are in prison to be rehabilitated; the adaptation of society to receive them, to treat them fairly without prejudice is as important as the changes in their lives, and they must be heard. Report Post Like Reply00 Prisioners should vote. Being inside a prison doesn't mean that you already had lost the capacity to think, choose and decide rightful leaders for your country. Being a prisoner doesn't necessarily mean that you are not already a part of the democracy. They have the human rights. They still have the intellect. Not letting them vote is unnecessary. Report Post Like Reply00 Let prisoners vote Prisoners are people who wave deviated from what the laws of their society considers to be the correct actions, but those who do not agree with the laws they have to abide by should have

the option of voting for a change in society, prisoners are still part of society and should get the chance to shape society. Anything less would not be a democracy. Report Post Like Reply00 Prisoners should vote Prisoners should vote because they are citizens and still have the right to vote, there would be some exceptions for medical issues and others.New laws should cover all this area in order to make it clear that the disfranchisement of a prisoner could lawfully be effected only by the discretionary decision of a judge.! Report Post Like Reply00 They have human rights Everyone in this world is practically a sinner, just because prisoners sin differently doesn't mean it is fair for their human rights to be taken away. Shouldnt these people be given their right to chose who has the power to lock them up and decide the crimes they are convicted for especially when they are moral or ethical crimes that can change depending on who sits in power at the time? Report Post Like Reply00 Have the right to vote They are not being thrown out of the country and they still are citizens and have to pay taxes like everyone else does, this is part of a problem that continues to plague people who are considered life time criminals. No one will hire someone who has a past offense also you must treat them with some respect. Report Post Like Reply00 Everyone Has A Right To A Say! It everyone's right to vote in the elections - including the prisoners who are in jail for whatever crime they have committed. The reason for this is that the political polices which the party elected may have an impact on people who incarcerated, therefore shouldn't they to have a say? Even if they as many people claim given their rights away by breaking the law, but surely no person can ever do this, due to the fact that human rights are believed to be universal. Therefore everyone ought to have a vote no matter who they are, it is their right as a human being. Due to the logic that their cast vote may be the decider if the electoral system used is that of First Past the Post. Report Post Like Reply00

No they lost the right No, they lost that right. That is one right they lost when incarcerated. They lost the right to be part of that area of society. Now when they get out of jail, they should get that right back. It's wrong for felons to not be able to vote once they're back in society. Just because they were convicted and paid their dues, doesn't mean they should lose that right forever. Report Post Like Reply00 They are still humaN Risoners Should be Able to Vote Prisoners are citizens too. They may have committed a felony, but they are still citizens of their home country. Some people think prisoners should not have the right to vote, but many others think they should. About two million people in U.S. Are in prison. All those people do not get to cast a vote in the election. They are not able to decide who runs the country they live in. Imagine not being able to have a say in our country. We are a democracy, which means everyone has the right to vote in our government. Prisoners should be allowed to vote because they still are citizens and still have rights. Prisoners should be able to vote and influence the outcome of an election . If all the prisoners were allowed to vote it may have an impact on the election. Prisoners want the chance to vote. As of February 2011 the United States was in the lead of number of prisoners with 2,019,234. Prisoners do not have a say in the government. In New York people who are on parole cannot vote. As of 2004 thirty-five states forbid people who have just been released from prison to vote. In the constitution it states everyone is given the right to vote. Amendment 15 is the voting rights act. In the first section of this amendment, it states the right to vote cannot be taken away from people based on their color, race, or what has happened previously in their life. That amendment is not being applied to the rights of prisoners. Only two states, Vermont and Maine, let everyone vote without ever stripping away rights(Robin Coe, Prisoners Voting Rights ehow.Com). In Vermont the voting laws are you have to be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Vermont, has taken voters oath, and 18 years or older to vote, this means that prisoners can vote there. In the second section it states that congress is supposed to enforce the first one. In 47 states prisoners cannot vote; in Maine an incarcerated person is allowed to vote. Congress has only protected this amendment in two states. We are a democracy. In a democracy everyone has a say in the government. The voting rules are different for prisoners in each state. In some states prisoners voting rights have to be restored. In South Dakota felons must serve their full term of incarceration, parole, or probation before they are allowed to register to vote. In Washington, felons have to wait to be off parole to be able to vote. In some states, prisoners cannot get their voting rights back once they have left prison if they have committed a very serious crime. Posted by: CACA123 Report Post Like Reply Challenge00

Less likely to re-offend In many circumstances crime is common among the lower income class. These are often the people who are hit the hardest by the government's policies. Therefore these prisoners should have an authorized say in the future of their country and their lives. Excluding them from voting would allow the government an easy pass to discriminate on this vulnerable section of society for their own popularity and benefits. Also many people forget that prisoners are people and lots of prisoners may have committed crimes such as shoplifting etc for their families and children and that their crimes were ultimately caused by the selfishness of society and not from their disobedience and disrespect towards authority. Figures also show that in many prisons without educational or recreational programmes, prisoners are more likely to re-offend once released as they feel angry, cut off and branded by society. So by including them in society by allowing them to vote, the chances of them reoffending are far less likely. However it could be suggested that there are some prisoners who through their crimes deserve to have their citizenship and rights rebuked. This could be true for serial killers etc although I do believe that if one citizen or prisoner is allowed to vote then everyone should be. Finally as there are still a few prisoners whose maturity and respect for others has not improved during their crimes, programmes across prisons should be run informing prisoners about the political contenders and the election process, but these must be impartial and not biased towards the present government. However there are are just as many members of society not in prison who display the maturity and respect of some offenders. Report Post Like Reply00 Yes, of course Prisoners are at the bottom of the social scale, but how they are treated is a judgement on the rest of us. They are in prison to be rehabilitated; the adaptation of society to receive them is as important as the changes in their lives, and they must be heard. Report Post Like Reply00 The person in prison has broken somebody else's rights so they should have their rights taken away from them When somebody goes to prison they go because they have broken the law and should be punished for what they have done, meaning if they have taken away somebody else's rights then they do not have the right to vote for who runs the country. Also, if they have been in prison for a very long time then they will have no grasp on current politics and not know the specific policies of current politicians, therefore if they do not know what they are voting for, they shouldn't be able to. Report Post Like Reply00 Everyone has the right to vote They should have a vote because the law is that everyone has the right to vote, and just because they are in prison doesn't mean they wouldn't make a bad decision towards politics. Maybe if they did something very very bad they should not have the right, but somrthing subtle

for example, should be able to vote. People outside of prison could change people in prison lives by voting, but they don't have a say in this. They should have the right to vote. Posted by: keendebater101 Report Post Like Reply Challenge00 Prisoners are not always the worst type of people. Some people are imprisoned for very minor reasons, some are falsely imprisoned and some because society has completely failed them. Although none of the above is an excuse for crime, the correct government can help towards the prevention of a criminal community, but only if those that are effected by the above scenarios engage in debate and can have their opinion when it matters. It is evident that under some governments more crime happens, which means the electing of a government that prevents crime or discourages it through their policies is correlated to potential criminals having their vote. If we want to live in a more peaceful state, we need to involve those that are mostly affected by changes in government. Involving criminals in political debate and voting will rehabilitate them quicker and upon release they may have more respect for their society and a greater understanding of their wrong behavior and how it affects people. Additionally, should immoral people be allowed to vote? Should bullies in the work place be allowed to vote? Should the war mongers who involved themselves or supported the recent illegal wars be allowed to vote? (i.E. Many MP's, soldiers and citizens). Some people are in prison for minor crimes such as tax dodging, whilst bullies and immoral people freely walk our streets and cast their vote. There is no beginning and no end to who should have a vote based on behavior, therefore everyone should have a vote. The fact of the matter is, some of the worst type of people never see the inside of a prison cell; these are usually the ones that so harshly judge those that are incarcerated, or those that have not helped discourage criminal behavior through their own attitudes. Quite often the immoral ones are those who have major influence during elections. Report Post Like Reply00 The deprivation of liberty in prison is punishment in itself - all other human rights should be protected. People are equal and should be treated as such - the UK Government has argued that it is to act as a deterrent and be part of punishment of imprisonment. I believe punishment through imprisonment is the deprivation of liberty - all other rights should be maintained and because prisoners are actually in a particularly vulnerable position due to being completely at the mercy of the state, their human rights should be supplemented. I don't understand why people are so disgusted by the thought - what is it about being a criminal that means that they shouldn't be allowed to vote? Its part of their rehabilitation, it keeps them involved in society and doesn't marginalise them while they are in prison and prisons the have the opportunity to influence policy which is going to affect them. Report Post

Like Reply00 Why on earth not? They are still a citizen and I don't believe committing a crime bares any relevance on a persons right to vote and have a say on the politics of the country they live in. I think it is dangerous to start stopping people from voting, everyone is entitled to a voice in the country they live in. Report Post Like Reply00 Prisoners are US citizens Prisoners made a mistake, yes, but they should be given a second chance. Prisoners shouldn't have to give up their right to vote, the US has fought wars to be independent, to be a democracy and to have certain rights. By not letting prisoners vote, it's as if we are throwing away all those wars as if they were nothing. By letting prisoners vote, it would help them focus on political issues so when they are released, they know what's going on. Report Post Like Reply00 Modern day slavery. For small amounts of drug possession there are more black people in prison in America than there is for rape, murder and robbery combined. One might say they are locking up "Gangsters" ... Imagine they started locking up all middle class students that took drugs. Yes, that would be YOUR children. The fact that they live in an engineered social condition that breeds crime is heinous, some people would even call that entrapment.

In the US there are over 1 million people homeless now if your government let you down...What would you do to survive? Thankfully, the majority of people have some kind of moral compass. Alas, you would find yourself turning to drugs for a way to escape your rock bottom lifestyle.

So you end up getting arrested (not helped). Now you are not allowed to vote. Which baffles me. I am all for freedom of speech, regardless how much I disagree with some peoples views. So if free racists can have a voice why can someone who is a victim not have the same treatment? Report Post Like Reply00 They are a part of America. Although their past may have lead them the wrong way towards a jail cell, every American citizen is human. Why take away their second chance? In amendment 15 of the American constitution it states that the right of vote cannot be taken away from people based on their color, race or what has happened previously in their life. This is called discrimination. Around 2 million

people of America are in jail, which is a mighty lot, and anyway the more the better, and one may say that the vote isn't equal without the whole population of American citizens. Report Post Like Reply00 Prisoners should be able to vote. Prisoners are citizens too. They may have committed a felony, but they are still citizens of their home country. Some people think prisoners should not have the right to vote, but many others think they should. About two million people in U.S. are in prison. All those people do not get to cast a vote in the election. They are not able to decide who runs the country they live in. Imagine not being able to have a say in our country. We are a democracy, which means everyone has the right to vote in our government. Prisoners should be allowed to vote because they still are citizens and still have rights. Prisoners should be able to vote and influence the outcome of an election. If all the prisoners were allowed to vote it may have an impact on the election. Prisoners want the chance to vote. As of February 2011 the United States was in the lead of number of prisoners with 2,019,234.

Prisoners do not have a say in the government. In New York people who are on parole cannot vote. As of 2004 thirty-five states forbid people who have just been released from prison to vote. In the constitution it states everyone is given the right to vote. Amendment 15 is the voting rights act. In the first section of this amendment, it states the right to vote cannot be taken away from people based on their color, race, or what has happened previously in their life. That amendment is not being applied to the rights of prisoners. Only two states, Vermont and Maine, let everyone vote without ever stripping away rights(Robin Coe, Prisoners Voting Rights ehow.com). In Vermont the voting laws are you have to be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Vermont, has taken voters oath, and 18 years or older to vote, this means that prisoners can vote there. In the second section it states that congress is supposed to enforce the first one. In 47 states prisoners cannot vote; in Maine an incarcerated person is allowed to vote. Congress has only protected this amendment in two states.

We are a democracy. In a democracy everyone has a say in the government. The voting rules are different for prisoners in each state. In some states prisoners voting rights have to be restored. In South Dakota felons must serve their full term of incarceration, parole, or probation before they are allowed to register to vote. In Washington, felons have to wait to be off parole to be able to vote. In some states, prisoners cannot get their voting rights back once they have left prison if they have committed a very serious crime. In Alabama, most felons have to apply to get their voting rights back, but if the felon committed a very serious crime like a murder, or treason they cannot get their rights back. Report Post Like Reply00

It's Unfair if they can't! Prisoners should get the right to vote. If you say they can't that's like saying "No you can't play this board game as you cheated in it 10 years ago!" (However I do fully understand why people would not want prisoners to vote and I respect their views) Thank you for reading.