Should prisoners be allowed to vote?

[Cashcow]

No. Voting is a right, but upon being found guilty of a crime, the prisoner is given a new set of rights. Suffrage should not be included.

Allowing these people to vote on issues that affect me is borderline theft.

[A18]

No.

[J. J.]

If you substitute the words "convicted criminals serving a sentence," no.  A person may be a "prisoner" who is being held, bur not convicted.

[Lunar]

I wouldn't complain if they could vote, but you give up your rights as a citizen for the duration of your sentence.

[dazzleman]

If you substitute the words "convicted criminals serving a sentence," no.  A person may be a "prisoner" who is being held, bur not convicted.

Agree.  I see no reason to ease up on people who break the law and harm others.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

If their sentence is less than 2 years, yes. If not, no. But they should have their rights restored once they complete it.

[dazzleman]

If their sentence is less than 2 years, yes. If not, no. But they should have their rights restored once they complete it.

That's a reasonable position.

[J. J.]

I would say that once someone convicted is out of the system, not on parole or anything, they should not be permitted to vote.  The punishment should be ongoing.

(I left out the "not" earlier.)

[??????????]

They should not be given back their rights upon release. Unless of course they can prove their innocence.

[minionofmidas]

I'm the only one to vote Yes.
What's wrong with you guys? Too much thirst for revenge? Too little respect for your fellow men?

[patrick1]

I'm the only one to vote Yes.
What's wrong with you guys? Too much thirst for revenge? Too little respect for your fellow men?

It is the criminals who had too little respect for their fellow man hence there voting rights revoked.

[minionofmidas]

I'm the only one to vote Yes.
What's wrong with you guys? Too much thirst for revenge? Too little respect for your fellow men?

It is the criminals who had too little respect for their fellow man hence there voting rights revoked.

Too much thirst for revenge then in your case.
Having committed a crime (and remember that murderers etc are totally untypical of the prison population. Small time marijuana dealers are typical.) does not mean you cease to be a member of society. The state is just the organization of society, and the franchise is the principal means to ensure it stays that way.
I don't think prisoners can vote in Germany, btw, although I know released prisoners can.

[patrick1]

It is not a thirst for revenge. It is justice.  There must be consequences when someone commits a crime.  You break the law and your some of rights should be stripped. And No they are not currently full functioning members of society.  Jail removes them from society...for a reason.  Once a ordinary prisoner is released they should have their voting rights restored.  However, it is my belief that certain criminals assault the fabric of society so much that they should have their voting rights permanently revoked.  Among these I consider murderers, pedophiles and rapists; all of whom should not see the outside of a prison anyway, egregious corporate criminals-There are others that escape me at the moment 

[Filuwaúrdjan]

However, it is my belief that certain criminals assault the fabric of society so much that they should have their voting rights permanently revoked.  Among these I consider murderers, pedophiles and rapists; all of whom should not see the outside of a prison anyway, egregious corporate criminals-There are others that escape me at the moment 

IIRC people who are convicted of electoral fraud in the U.K have their voting rights permanantly revoked.

[Serenity Now]

Could their votes really make much difference?

(not rhetorical, I actually don't know. Somebody please answer!)

[minionofmidas]

Could their votes really make much difference?

(not rhetorical, I actually don't know. Somebody please answer!)

Depends (of course in a close race it would make all the difference).
a) How many of them would vote? And what would the partisan breakdown be?
I'm pretty sure that most wouldn't bother to vote. The partisan breakdown in America would be pretty overwhelmingly for the Democrats, though.
b) Where would their votes be counted? At their last ordinary place of residence, like for military voters, or in the place the prison is situated? In the latter case, America's giant prison complexes in the countryside could not function if prisoners simply took over the town they're in at the ballot box. That would be pretty ridiculous.

[Akno21]

Once they get out, certainly. A person convicted of a small theft at age 19 and sentenced to a small sentence should not have no democratic rights at age 79.

[Nation]

Convicted criminals? No.



While you're serving a sentence in prison, you have forefited your right TO LIVE IN THE OUTSIDE WORLD, doing normal everyday things. Look at yourself, you're stuck in a jail cell. Of course you shouldn't have the right to vote -- you gave that up.

Once you get out of jail? Sure, why not. Chances are you'll just commit another crime again before the election.

[2952-0-0]

I think they should miss the next three elections of anything. After that they should have learnt their lesson.

[Platypus]

this seems to be a very american debate. My view is that once released, of course they should be able to vote as they are being taxed, are members of the community, etc. In prison? I'm not sure to be honest, but I don't think BRTD's idea (yes if under two years) is a bad one.

[The Man From G.O.P.]

I'm the only one to vote Yes.
What's wrong with you guys? Too much thirst for revenge? Too little respect for your fellow men?

what? kind of like the respect criminals have for us???

[The Man From G.O.P.]

BTW how many criminals go to the polls anyway?

[Cashcow]

BTW how many criminals go to the polls anyway?

Are you kidding me?

By the way, I find it interesting that most who voted yes aren't debating.

[Akno21]

I'm the only one to vote Yes.
What's wrong with you guys? Too much thirst for revenge? Too little respect for your fellow men?

what? kind of like the respect criminals have for us???

Not all criminals are psycho freaks who want to bomb everything they can get their hands on.

[GLOBAL DICTATOR]

Maybe count prisoners the way slaves were once counted, as not an entire person, but 2/3 of a person.