Should prisoners have the right to vote?

**BonnieTyler** · 24-05-2012, 09:46am

No.

**Chickenlips** · 24-05-2012, 09:58am

Prison is abut having your liberties taken away, so no

I already feel (see my other thread) that prisoners have it too easy.

**Poppopity** · 24-05-2012, 10:12am

No.

**scatterbrain** · 24-05-2012, 11:17am

No

**Damsella** · 24-05-2012, 11:49am

Going against the grain, I don't agree that prisoners should have their right to vote taken away.

I have yet to hear a strong enough, logical argument to change my mind. Saying "they broke the laws of society" doesn't, imo, constitute a strong enough argument. We still feed them, we still take taxes from them, we still house them. Either we exile them completely from society, or we allow them one of the most basic and fundemental democratic rights.

And let's look at why some people are in prison - is a blanket ban really fair?

Also, plenty of people break the laws of society but are given a suspended sentence. Should they have their right to vote taken away as well?

**jamsplat** · 24-05-2012, 11:54am

Originally Posted by Damsella

Going against the grain, I don't agree that prisoners should have their right to vote taken away.

I have yet to hear a strong enough, logical argument to change my mind. Saying "they broke the laws of society" doesn't, imo, constitute a strong enough argument. We still feed them, we still take taxes from them, we still house them. Either we exile them completely from society, or we allow them one of the most basic and fundemental democratic rights.

And let's look at why some people are in prison - is a blanket ban really fair?

I agree

**Biba** · 24-05-2012, 05:14pm

Originally Posted by *Holly*

No I dont think so, I think if you have broken the law of the land you dont get to influence who sets the laws (in the most simple way).

This

**cheeky_biscuit** · 24-05-2012, 05:20pm

60-70% of the population don't care enough to vote so I can't see giving prisoners the right to vote will make any difference.
But I don't know if they should be banned - would it be just for the duration of the sentence or ongoing? And what about other guilty persons, who may have been punished with a fine/community service etc? Would they be allowed to vote?

**Franny** · 25-05-2012, 02:23pm

I don't mind if they have a right to vote either. Lots of crimes are petty anyway (not that that is an excuse) and some of them might be influenced by, for example, the state of the economy and the political decisions that have led up to that. If they can play a positive part in having a say in what goes on in the country, I can't say it is a bad thing even if the difference it makes is only theoretical.