Should People in Prison have a Right to Vote? | Philosophy Tube

TL;DR

Denying prisoners the right to vote is a human rights violation with weak justifications and disproportionate consequences.

Transcript

here in my country and also in the United States New Zealand and a few other places if you are in prison you cannot vote and judging by the almost total lack of public discussion about this most people in the UK at least seem to be kind of fine with that it's something we don't really talk about something we don't really think about whenever this g... Read More

Key Insights

• 🗯️ Denying prisoners the right to vote is a disregarded human rights violation, with little public attention or discussion.
• 🖤 The arguments for denying prisoners the vote are weak, lacking evidence and logical consistency.
• 🗯️ This practice disproportionately affects racial minorities, impacting their political representation and rights.
• 🗯️ Denial of voting rights may hinder rehabilitation efforts and perpetuate social exclusion among prisoners.
• 🗯️ The UK government has repeatedly been told by courts that denying prisoners the vote is a human rights violation, yet no action has been taken.
• 🗯️ Even without considering international human rights rulings, there is a lack of compelling reasons to deny prisoners the right to vote.
• 🖤 The practice of denying prisoners the vote lacks proportionality and fairness, treating all prisoners the same regardless of the nature of their crimes.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why do some people argue that prisoners don't deserve the right to vote?

Some argue that prisoners who break the law have demonstrated their lack of trustworthiness and loyalty to the nation, disqualifying them from voting.

Q: Is there evidence to support the claim that prisoners voting would lead to radical pro-crime agendas?

No, countries that have allowed prisoners to vote, such as Ireland and Canada, have not seen a surge in crime as a result.

Q: Does denying prisoners the right to vote have any positive consequences?

There is little evidence to suggest that it aids in reform or deterrence; in fact, it may hinder rehabilitation efforts.

Q: Why is racially skewed criminal justice system a concern in relation to denying prisoners the right to vote?

In the US, where almost 40% of prisoners are black, this practice disproportionately affects the voting rights of black individuals, potentially influencing the political landscape.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Voting rights of prisoners is a taboo topic in many countries, including the UK, with little public discussion or awareness.

• Supporters of denying prisoners the right to vote argue for rights forfeiture theory, claiming that breaking the law means losing certain rights.

• However, there is little evidence to suggest that prisoners voting would have negative consequences or subvert the national interest.