Blog #5: Should Convicts be Allowed to Vote?

4:12 PM

08 February 2011

Five years ago, a case against the United Kingdom ruled that prisoners, namely convicts, should have the right to vote in elections. However, they did not implement the ruling of such a case, even though many other European states in the European council have been allowing convicts to vote for quite some time. The rest of the states have seen no serious detrimental repercussions as a result of such.

After more than 2,500 complaints by convicts who were not allowed to vote, the issue was finally brought up again last November. “The court selected one of them for a “pilot judgment" and found the United Kingdom to be in breach of the convention once again.” The court ruled in favor of the convicts and stated that the United Kingdom would have to make changes to their laws on voting for prisoners. The United Kingdom was given six months to enact remedial measures to fix the issue.

“There have been emotional reactions against the very idea that criminals, including those who have committed serious offences, should be able to have any influence in politics.” Many in Britain are highly upset by the ruling.

There are several reasons why I personally believe this situation is bogus and people in jails and prisons have the right to vote. That is not to say that I support what the criminals do to place themselves in such locations. However, I do believe that convicts’ ability to vote is a basic aspect of democracy and their human rights.

Most importantly, the right to vote is a right that EVERYONE should have that is of age. This includes: gays, minorities, females, politicians, teachers, janitors, brunettes, African Americans, Indians, etc. As long as you are a citizen of the United States, then get in line because you deserve to vote.

Also, considering there are millions of apathetic people in the world that are more than eligible to vote that do not take the opportunity, why should prisoners be excluded when they want nothing more than to vote? Many Americans take it for granted that we have democracy and those that recognize it and acknowledge it in prison, are not allowed.

Third, if you exclude those in prison from voting, then other groups would eventually start to become excluded. It’s the same idea that if someone get’s an advantage, then everyone gets that advantage to make it fair. Eventually, only the white, male, landowners would have their human right to vote once more.

Fourth, it’s important to remember that many prisoners and convicts are wrongly sentenced and accused. Many, because of the lack of technology of the time, unfair judges, or just cruel individuals, end up behind bars when they do not belong there. They should not be punished further for something they did not do.

Fifth, many prisoners in their free time, read, watch television and actually further develop their intellectual minds. Granted, not all do this, but quite a number do. With all of this acquired knowledge, they can actually make well-informed votes during the elections, unlike many ordinary American’s today.

Lastly, it is important to remember that many convicts will be released into society once they have served their time. Hopefully they do not return and attempt to create a better life for themselves. When this occurs, they have every right in the world to influence, through democracy and their vote, how that society will function around and for them.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2011/feb/04/prisoner-voting-convicts-human-beings

Colleen Mills