Law and Rights
Voting for prisoners has now moved up the government's reform agenda. The idea is unpopular in some quarters because there is a view that those serving sentences of imprisonment have lost the moral right to participate in the government of the country. However, the government must act because of the stance adopted by the European Court of Human Rights and the concern expressed by the Council of Ministers that the U.K. has delayed implementation of the court's rulings. A useful document produced by Parliament looks at this issue in depth - see here. A previous post on this blog may be read here
The U.K. is bound, as a matter of international law, to implement decisions of the European Court of Human Rights. In recent times compliance has sometimes been avoided by various methods such as putting the matter out to consultation etc. [There have been two consultations on prisoner voting]. In other cases, compliance is to the minimum level which Ministers think they can get away with.
Further information is available on the Prison Reform Trust website.
- Prisoner Voting - Joint Committee Report And Also Scottish Independence Referendum
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...
- 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...
- Prisoner Voting - Scoppola V Italy - Will Prisoners Finally Have To Be Granted The Right To Vote?
The European Court of Human Rights has announced that, on 22nd May, the Grand Chamber will hand down judgment in Scoppola v. Italy (N° 3) concerning a prisoner?s right to vote. The case concerns the applicant?s disenfranchisement following his...
- Prisoners And Voting
In Hirst v United Kingdom (2004) 38 EHRR 40 a Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the U.K.'s blanket ban on convicted prisoners voting in elections was in breach of the Convention. That decision was confirmed by the Grand...
Law and Rights
Prisoners and the right to vote
Voting for prisoners has now moved up the government's reform agenda. The idea is unpopular in some quarters because there is a view that those serving sentences of imprisonment have lost the moral right to participate in the government of the country. However, the government must act because of the stance adopted by the European Court of Human Rights and the concern expressed by the Council of Ministers that the U.K. has delayed implementation of the court's rulings. A useful document produced by Parliament looks at this issue in depth - see here. A previous post on this blog may be read here
The U.K. is bound, as a matter of international law, to implement decisions of the European Court of Human Rights. In recent times compliance has sometimes been avoided by various methods such as putting the matter out to consultation etc. [There have been two consultations on prisoner voting]. In other cases, compliance is to the minimum level which Ministers think they can get away with.
Further information is available on the Prison Reform Trust website.
- Prisoner Voting - Joint Committee Report And Also Scottish Independence Referendum
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...
- 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...
- Prisoner Voting - Scoppola V Italy - Will Prisoners Finally Have To Be Granted The Right To Vote?
The European Court of Human Rights has announced that, on 22nd May, the Grand Chamber will hand down judgment in Scoppola v. Italy (N° 3) concerning a prisoner?s right to vote. The case concerns the applicant?s disenfranchisement following his...
- Prisoners And Voting
In Hirst v United Kingdom (2004) 38 EHRR 40 a Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the U.K.'s blanket ban on convicted prisoners voting in elections was in breach of the Convention. That decision was confirmed by the Grand...