Law and Rights
Prisoner Voting - Draft Bill:
The Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Draft Voting Eligibility (Prisoners) Bill has reported ? (PDF/HTML/conclusions). The report recommends:
... that the Government bring forward a Bill, at the start of the 2014 -15 session of Parliament, to give legislative effect to the following conclusions:
Previous post 7th November 2013.
Voting in the Scottish Independence Referendum:
In September 2014, Scotland is to hold a referendum on the question of independence. In Petition of Moohan, Gibson and Gillon [2013] CSOH 199 - the Court of Session (Outer House) has rejected a judicial review of the Scottish Independence (Referendum) Act 2013 (an Act of the Scottish Parliament). The petition was for a judicial review of sections 2 and 3 of the Act where eligibility to vote in the referendum is set out.
Lord Glennie noted: This opinion, covering the arguments raised in three petitions, is concerned with the right to vote in that independence referendum. In particular, it concerns the right of convicted prisoners to vote. This is presently excluded by a blanket ban on prisoners voting. This was enacted by the Scottish Parliament. The question before the court is as to the legality of that blanket ban.
- Eu Referendum Bill
Updated 25th May ... It is reported that the government's EU Referendum Bill will be published the day after the Queen's Speech - see, for example, The Guardian 19th May. This Bill will not be the first Bill to seek a referendum but, this...
- The West Lothian Question ~ A Few Thoughts !
The so-called West Lothian question is a political and not legal question. It was asked as long ago as 1977 by Tam Dalyell MP who represented West Lothian from 1962 to 1983 and Linlithgow from 1983 to 2005. The question asks whether MPs from Northern...
- Scotland And The Independence Referendum
Doubtless, the subject of the Scottish Independence referendum will come to dominate the news this year. The referendum is to be held on September 2014. In the event of a Yes-to-Independence vote, the proposed timescale is: 18th September...
- Parliament ~ Prisoner Voting ~ Evidence From Secretary-general Of The Council Of Europe And The Attorney-general
On Wednesday (6th November) a Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament resumed its work considering the draft Prisoner Voting (Eligibility) Bill. The Bill contains 3 options but also notes that there 'will no doubt be other possible options.' ...
- Prisoner Voting
By today, the government was required to bring forward legislative proposals relating to prisoner voting. A DRAFT Bill has been issued - Voting Eligibility (Prisoners) Draft Bill The Bill presents three options for reform: Option 1: ban for prisoners...
Law and Rights
Prisoner voting - Joint Committee report and also Scottish Independence Referendum
The Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Draft Voting Eligibility (Prisoners) Bill has reported ? (PDF/HTML/conclusions). The report recommends:
... that the Government bring forward a Bill, at the start of the 2014 -15 session of Parliament, to give legislative effect to the following conclusions:
- That all prisoners serving sentences of 12 months or less should be entitled to vote in all UK parliamentary, local and European elections;
- That such prisoners should be registered to vote in the constituency where they were registered prior to sentencing; and that, where there is no identified prior residence, they should be able to register by means of a declaration of local connection;
- That prisoners should be entitled to apply, 6 months before their scheduled release date, to be registered to vote in the constituency into which they are due to be released.
Previous post 7th November 2013.
Voting in the Scottish Independence Referendum:
In September 2014, Scotland is to hold a referendum on the question of independence. In Petition of Moohan, Gibson and Gillon [2013] CSOH 199 - the Court of Session (Outer House) has rejected a judicial review of the Scottish Independence (Referendum) Act 2013 (an Act of the Scottish Parliament). The petition was for a judicial review of sections 2 and 3 of the Act where eligibility to vote in the referendum is set out.
Lord Glennie noted: This opinion, covering the arguments raised in three petitions, is concerned with the right to vote in that independence referendum. In particular, it concerns the right of convicted prisoners to vote. This is presently excluded by a blanket ban on prisoners voting. This was enacted by the Scottish Parliament. The question before the court is as to the legality of that blanket ban.
- Eu Referendum Bill
Updated 25th May ... It is reported that the government's EU Referendum Bill will be published the day after the Queen's Speech - see, for example, The Guardian 19th May. This Bill will not be the first Bill to seek a referendum but, this...
- The West Lothian Question ~ A Few Thoughts !
The so-called West Lothian question is a political and not legal question. It was asked as long ago as 1977 by Tam Dalyell MP who represented West Lothian from 1962 to 1983 and Linlithgow from 1983 to 2005. The question asks whether MPs from Northern...
- Scotland And The Independence Referendum
Doubtless, the subject of the Scottish Independence referendum will come to dominate the news this year. The referendum is to be held on September 2014. In the event of a Yes-to-Independence vote, the proposed timescale is: 18th September...
- Parliament ~ Prisoner Voting ~ Evidence From Secretary-general Of The Council Of Europe And The Attorney-general
On Wednesday (6th November) a Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament resumed its work considering the draft Prisoner Voting (Eligibility) Bill. The Bill contains 3 options but also notes that there 'will no doubt be other possible options.' ...
- Prisoner Voting
By today, the government was required to bring forward legislative proposals relating to prisoner voting. A DRAFT Bill has been issued - Voting Eligibility (Prisoners) Draft Bill The Bill presents three options for reform: Option 1: ban for prisoners...