Should prisoners be allowed to vote?

Should prisoners be allowed to vote?

 The issue of allowing or not allowing prisoners to exercise their voting rights has been controversial. While some individuals and groups argue that prisoners should not vote, others claim that the prisoners are human beings and thus have the right to vote. This group explains that prisoners should also get involved in national elections to elect leaders who can address the challenges they face while in prison. It is essential to note that some of the challenges faced by prisoners include overcrowding, poor sanitation, and abuse by the prison warder. Therefore, prisoners need to elect a leader who will advocate for their rights while in prison because they are still humans and deserve dignity and respect. Also, if prisoners exercise their voting rights, it will help them with the rehabilitation process and thus reduced the possibilities of recidivism. Therefore, denying the prisoners their voting rights damages their self-worth and dignity and hence, the need to allow them to vote.

According to Brettschneider, voting is a fundamental human right, and everyone should have it regardless of the crime they have committed. Everyone makes mistakes, and that does not mean they to be stripped of the most fundamental rights. The voting right gives prisoners the freedom to select the person they believe can improve their condition while in and out of prison. Governor Mc Auliffe of Virginia also supports that ex-felons and prisoners should vote. Prisoner’s voting rights is a growing concern that lawmakers should address as it has significant impacts on prisoners and ex-felons (Brettschneider). The Constitution supports voting rights for prisoners. Therefore, denying them this right violates an independent government. This right also allows the country to improve its political and policy senses. Inmates integrate comfortably into society if they can participate in the democratic process through voting after or while still serving their sentences. Therefore, prisoners will have increased involvement in policies enacted by chosen leaders (Brettschneider). Thus, there will be reduced recidivism as ex-felons participate in the democratic process by understanding that they are responsible citizens and must obey the law. Ex-felons will also recognize significant contributions towards the republican debates to influence the outcome of a specific policy.

There have been allegations of the mistreatment of prisoners and, thus, the reforms in the criminal justice system. Prisoners should present the specific issues that they would want the criminal justice to improve and enhance their living conditions while in prison. It is unfortunate that despite the need for reforms in the criminal justice system, only two states, Vermont and Maine, allow prisoners to vote. Others, like Utah and Massachusetts, revoked the voting right through the state referendum (Brettschneider). Prisoners have also been allowed to retain some of the constitutional rights like religious freedom and speech rights to enable them to express their political opinions. They should also keep their citizenship right since it does not cease to exist if a person has been imprisoned. Therefore, if prisoners have been allowed to retain their nationality and civil status, they should also vote as it is the crucial aspect of their civil rights.

Prisoners can use their voting rights to defend their interests and improve the prison system. Prisoners have, for a long time, been subjected to inhumane conditions and abuse, thereby leading to the death of some prisoners. For example, in California prisons, an inmate dies almost every six or seven days, and some also experience horrific prison practices like solitary confinement (Brettschneider). Therefore, improving prisons requires the creation of political constituency of the prison voters as well as granting prisoners freedom of speech. They should also receive information about public life to understand the actions of their representatives. Prisoners should have the opportunity to contribute to the development of policies on healthcare and education as well as other issues that may affect them in society. Considerably, prisoners can also participate in voting by electing leaders whom they believe will bring changes in and outside the prison. Besides, prisoners also access healthcare services and would thus ensure that the elected leaders bring significant changes in such sectors to enhance the quality of care to prisoners and civilians.

On the other hand, others argue that a prison is a form of punishment for offenders, and thus, they should not be allowed to vote while serving their sentences. According to Gittos, prisoners should not vote since once they are in prison, they have been cut from civic engagement. Prisoners do not pay taxes as well as having access to healthcare services. Prisoners do not also engage with the public and thus interact with the state via the prison system. Therefore, it is not reasonable for prisoners to have voting rights. However, it essential to note that prisoners are human beings, regardless of the crime they have committed. They may be in prison, but they also require access to other fundamental rights and needs. Prisoners deserve dignity and thus should participate in the democratic process. They need to ensure that the chosen leaders create policies that will be of significant value in their lives once they have served their sentences and reintegrated into society. Ex-felon needs to carry on with regular activities in the community. Therefore, voting allows them to choose leaders who will advocate for their rights and bring changes in the management of criminal justice operations.

Furthermore, prisoners also get sick and require quality healthcare. They should participate in the election process to improve the living conditions in prison. Besides, Brettschneider indicated that at least one inmate dies after every six or seven days. Such incidents may not exist if prisoners are allowed to vote and contribute to reforms in the criminal justice system and the healthcare sector. Prisoners get medical attention on time since their rights do not cease to exist once they are in prison. Besides, some prisoners are recovering from drug addiction and require support from healthcare facilities. Prisoners also need to undergo counseling, and thus, healthcare policies are essential through the voting process.

Gittos also argue that voting is not a basic necessity but a democratic right earned through citizenship rights. Unlike other members of the society with the stake to exercise power of voting, prisoners lack similar skills as they have restricted interactions with the community. Therefore if prisoners have been allowed to vote, it will be an indication that politicians seek to have votes of individuals who have been convicted of critical crimes. Gittos emphasizes that as soon as individuals have finished serving their sentences, they should restore their civil status and resume their voting rights. However, it is necessary to note that prisoners do not vote, yet they contributed to the total population for legislative districts for the specific prisons. It is one of the factors that establish the number of representatives and presidential electoral votes for a state (Brettschneider). Therefore, denying them the right to vote but using the prison population for political gains is irrational.

Generally, arguments on whether prisoners should be allowed to vote will continue to exist. There are no reformed in the criminal justice system to allow prisoners to exercise their voting rights.  Therefore, prisoners deserve to vote and allowed to elect chosen leaders who will advocate for the improvement of prisoner’s living conditions while in prison and after serving their sentences. Prisoners are also human beings and thus deserve their fundamental human rights, which is essential in gaining civil status.

Work Cited

Brettschneider, Corey. “Why Prisoners Deserve the Right to Vote.” Politico Magazine. (2016). Accessed on December 7, 2019, from https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/06/prisoners-convicts-felons-inmates-right-to-vote-enfranchise-criminal-justice-voting-rights-213979

Gittos, Luke.”Why Prisoners Shouldn’t have the Right to Vote.” Spiked, (2018). Accessed on December 7, 2019, from https://www.spiked-online.com/2019/05/01/why-prisoners-shouldnt-have-the-right-to-vote/