Prisoners voting

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Bizkit87

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Hi there

I'm just asking for interest sake. Prisoners in SA is allowed to vote in the elections, but is it the same in other countries? (in the USA, England etc etc..)

I always thought that you loose all your rights if you go to prison? why do they have a say about what should happen in the country?
 
Solid point.
But if you're the ruling party, you can gain a lot of votes by promising them stuff.
The best part is, that if you win, you don't have to live up to those promises. :D Who'll believe a criminal in jail that a Party promised to let him go?
 
AFAIK in the USA if you've been convicted of a felony you're not allowed to vote. Seems reasonable to me.
 
Syndyre said:
AFAIK in the USA if you've been convicted of a felony you're not allowed to vote. Seems reasonable to me.
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It seems fair to me too, if you abused someone else's rights, you shouldn't have any of you own (if you kill a guy, he can't vote anymore, why should you?)
 
**** dont start me on this... I feel very strongly about this!

I think its total bull**** that people in prison can vote. When you become a criminal, that was YOUR decision and hence you lose all your rights!

proves my point that criminals have the same (if not MORE) rights than the man in the street

FFS :mad:
 
The Constitutional Court did uphold the rights of prisoners to vote. I think parliament wanted to remove their right.
So there is something wrong with our constitution then?:D
 
JungleBoy said:
The Constitutional Court did uphold the rights of prisoners to vote. I think parliament wanted to remove their right.
So there is something wrong with our constitution then?:D
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You are correct.

IIRC government argued, if you go to prison you lose some of your rights, but I think their main argument was it would cost to much money to allow prisoners to vote.

Can't remember the details but after the ruling government passed legislation that allowed some prisoners to vote. The CC "interfered" :p again and said the legislation is unconstitutional and all citizens should have the right to vote.
 
Try thinking a bit further than that
A ruling party could go arresting all their oppositions supporters, throw them in prison and then those political prisoners would not be able to vote.
 
Most prisoners vote ANC, because they are so soft handed with crime.

Vote ANC, together we can do more... crime...

I think it's total BS that prisoners have the right to vote. While you are in prison you deserve no rights. Once you have paid your debt to society and you get out it might be reconsidered.

Howcome all the fuss over people overseas voting when the scum of the country get to vote. ANC sucks people, vote something else already.
 
TMoose said:
Most prisoners vote ANC, because they are so soft handed with crime.

Vote ANC, together we can do more... crime...

I think it's total BS that prisoners have the right to vote. While you are in prison you deserve no rights. Once you have paid your debt to society and you get out it might be reconsidered.

Howcome all the fuss over people overseas voting when the scum of the country get to vote. ANC sucks people, vote something else already.
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didn't you read above, the ANC (majority in parliament wanted to remove their right to vote - 1999). The ConCourt ruled that it was unconstitutional to allow some prisoners (those awaiting trial and those convicted of lesser offenses ) to vote and deny some(rapists, murderers, armed robbers).
(Read Digital Soldier's post above)
It boils down to every adult citizen being allowed to vote, a clause that requires qualification (IMO)
 
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