Should prison inmates be allowed to vote in elections?

It is hardly logical for jailed criminals to vote. Their incarceration somewhat prohibits active involvement in political and social affairs in the first place, right?

Think about it- if we spent a ton of money for you and me, LAW ABIDING CITIZENS, that equals the amount we spend on CRIMINALS in our OVERLOADED PRISONS, would you be debt free? I would. I would also be able to afford a house and a new car at the very least, 2 things I need but cannot afford. We would save TENS OF BILLIONS every year just by bringing back capitol punishment, and not allowing murderers and rapists to live for 10 to 20 years in our prisons. People who are truly guilty, should be put to death, quickly and swiftly. That may sound cold and heartless, but think about how that would save tens of millions of dollars a year, AND what effect it would have on other criminally minded people who have not been caught. If you know that you will be executed immediately after trial if you

are found guilty of a capitol crime, would you commit the crime in the first place? Evidence proves that systems that support far stricter forms of punishment for these types of offenses have a significantly lower crime rate. It is not about treating these poor humble folks with proper humanitarian love, it is about setting an example to society that these evil people are dead because they broke the law resulting in the death or harm of their fellow man. And we are letting these evil people VOTE???? What the heck ever.

To put it quite succinctly..No. When you are in prison you should forfeit your rights and privileges.

I don't think that it would be right for them to vote while they are actually in jail, but after they get out and have served their time, I do not see why it would be a problem.

A big part of the justice system should be about punishing a person for their crimes. If you continue to punish them when they get out, you are only breeding an environment where an ex-criminals only option is to be a criminal, which is something that happens all to often in the US.

My opinion is that inmates should lose their right to vote while they are in prison. After that, however, it should be restored. I believe that our prison system would benefit from significant reform. First, I think that every incoming prisoner should undergo educational testing to determine their level of literacy and overall ability to function. If they are not up to the level of a high school graduate, then mandatory classes should be part of their incarceration and a condition of release should be attaining their GED. Day to day privileges would be linked to their academic performance and overall effort. Second, each prisoner should spend the majority of their time working, preferably at a trade that could be used after their period of incarceration has ended. A good work ethic and performance would also lead to increased privileges. My view is that if prison was a work/night school model, we might turn out people better prepared to be productive citizens.

When you violate the laws of this sociaty you lose the right to be an active member. Now, if they repay the cost of their trial and their punishment then reestablishing their might be worth exploring. If the liberals handle it first they'll cry for them, then they'll buy them a house and a car because they were only misunderstood so it's not their fault.

Only for Chili-Max or Cheese melt. Anything else no.

People doing time is a result of being conviction in the law courts for their failures. In such correctional institutions there are certain rights and priviledges which are no more accessible to him. If we allow a prisoner the common comfort and luzury he became accustomed to before he offend, what are the meaning of of those institutions? What would be the use of the legal system? Yet even in prison, I beleive there are certain rights which have been fought for and won through blood, sweat and tears. And offending society, does and should not rob one of such rights. Voting is a right one should have, and never lose no matter what crime we have comitted. You should have the right to chose your government, the leadership of your country, even in prison!

A convicted murderer has lost a legal battle to be given the right to vote in elections while serving a prison term. Peter Chester was jailed in 1977 for raping and strangling his niece in Blackpool and is... keep reading →

Well the country is already run by criminals, so they might as well be elected by criminals.

But seriously no, and while we're on the subject, the intensely stupid should not have a vote either...actually scratch that, that would disqualify almost everyone in this country.

Politicians, bureaucrats, lawyers, welfare mothers, corporate CEOs, banksters, get to vote. So why not convicts?

yes because they are human just like us and if the judical system can vote to put you in there than they should have some say so too.