ogugua88:

I na su Igbo? YAY! I finished and scored perfects on a few of them

haba! E maro mbu onye igbo? Mu si na ozalla niime enugu.

Hypeman..My point exactly.. The law makes no sense.. All na vote, if a freeman can vote for candidate A why can't a convicted fellow vote for the same candidate..

ogugua88:

When they get out, they can vote.

NO!!! WHY? Because they can‘t be voted for. E nugo?

ogugua88:

When you commit a crime, you lose your rights. It's not rocket science and there's nothing mad about it. I gave the analogy of a child misbehaving and losing privileges. That's exactly what it is. One can't be a criminal and have the same privileges as me. If I'm good, I can vote. If I'm bad, I can still vote? No. If that's the case, then the incentive to do good has been diminished.

Except in this case, voting isn't a "privilege" as in the case of the misbehaving child. It is a right. Your analogy doesn't quite fit.

Unless you're arguing that rights can be stripped, in which case, it would cease being a right.

GooseBaba: Hypeman..My point exactly.. The law makes no sense.. All na vote, if a freeman can vote for candidate A why can't a convicted fellow vote for the same candidate..

because he can‘t be voted for. They go together; vote and be voted for.

lucenzo: haba! E maro mbu onye igbo? Mu si na ozalla niime enugu.

A maro m lol. Ka anyi je house papa m lmao. I nwere email addy?

Purist: Except in this case, voting isn't a "privilege" as in the case of the misbehaving child. It is a right. Your analogy doesn't quite fit.

Unless you're arguing that rights can be stripped, in which case, it would cease being a right.

I don't see the logic of allowing violators of the law to vote on law issues. They didn't care about the law which is what got them in there in the first place. Prisoners aren't exactly a part of society, which is why they are imprisoned, so why should they be included in something as societal as voting?

Purist:

Except in this case, voting isn't a "privilege" as in the case of the misbehaving child. It is a right. Your analogy doesn't quite fit.

Unless you're arguing that rights can be stripped, in which case, it would cease being a right.

Bro, u just nailed it, there is definitely a difference between Rights and Privilege, you are born with one and u are accorded the other.

Email m ne wey nsuobu, o ihe me ma ke nye gi reply. Ke ebe uno mpagi no?

ogugua88:

I don't see the logic of allowing violators of the law to vote on law issues. They didn't care about the law which is what got them in there in the first place. Prisoners aren't exactly a part of society, which is why they are imprisoned, so why should they be included in something as societal as voting?

Personally i feel this statement is very very inconsiderate and Unfair, what do u mean by they are not part of the society, yet they are visited by family members including their kids, some get married there, kids are born in prison yet u are claiming they are not exactly a part of society!!!

There is a separate budget for the prison every year, the prison employs thousands of people and helps keep food on the table of many yet the prisoners aren't exactly a part of society.

IF THEY ARE NOT A PART OF SOCIETY, WHERE DO THEY BELONG THEN? LIMBO

If they directly/ indirectly affect our lives, then they are part and parcel of the society.

lucenzo: Email m ne wey nsuobu, o ihe me ma ke nye gi reply. Ke ebe uno mpagi no?

Oh yeah, I forgot lol. Meet me in the chatroom in Romance, before Jarus/Oam4j ban us for derailing lol.

lucenzo: because he can‘t be voted for. They go together; vote and be voted for.

That na lie! Their civic rights got nothing to do with them being voted for.. That one na beer parlour talk..

It's not new! Prisoners vote in Ghana.

ogugua88:

I don't see the logic of allowing violators of the law to vote on law issues. They didn't care about the law which is what got them in there in the first place. Prisoners aren't exactly a part of society, which is why they are imprisoned, so why should they be included in something as societal as voting?

You're right to some extent. Problem is, it isn't quite as black and white as you paint it. Your thinking assumes that all prisoners are deliberate violators of the law, which we all know isn't the case. In Uganda for example, a bill was recently passed which basically allows for people to be imprisoned for their sexuäl orientation. And then, there are cases of misapplied justice, innocent mistakes (one-off crimes not committed due to malicious intents), etc.

Besides, bad people vote all the time.

Something to reflect on: Not all prisoners are criminals.

Roland17: Personally i feel this statement is very very inconsiderate and Unfair, what do u mean by they are not part of the society, yet they are visited by family members including their kids, some get married there, kids are born in prison yet u are claiming they are not exactly a part of society!!!

There is a separate budget for the prison every year, the prison employs thousands of people and helps keep food on the table of many yet they aren't exactly a part of society.

IF THEY ARE NOT A PART OF SOCIETY, WHERE DO THEY BELONG THEN? LIMBO

If they directly/ indirectly affect our lives, then they are part and parcel of the society.

We're going in circles. I have my views and don't plan on changing them. I tend to vote left/liberal but on this issue I'm conservative. I don't believe in voting rights for prisoners. Most of them infringed on someone else's rights to land themselves there. End of discussion for me.

Purist: You're right to some extent. Problem is, it isn't quite as black and white as you paint it. Your thinking assumes that all prisoners are deliberate violators of the law, which we all know isn't the case. In Uganda for example, a bill was recently passed which basically allows for people to be imprisoned for their sexual orientation. And then, there are cases of misapplied justice, innocent mistakes (one-off crimes not committed due to malicious intents), etc.

Besides, bad people vote all the time.

I know it's not black and white. As I told Roland earlier though, voting rights doesn't necessary solve misapplied justice, imprisoning the innocent, etc. The judicial system in its entirety needs to be reviewed. Roland gave the example of bigger criminals like politicians voting, so smaller criminals imprisoned should vote too. That's hogwash.

ogugua88:

The United States is a democracy. Incarcerated felons do not vote with the exception of two states: Maine and Vermont.

If the person is awaiting trial, then he or she can vote. If a prisoner is serving a term, then he or she shouldn't be allowed to vote. It's called punishment. I don't recall misbehaving when I was a child and still being allowed to play with toys and have dessert. You do the crime, you do the time, and that involves losing privileges that people who abide by the law enjoy.

That U.S doesn't allow its prisoners to vote does not make it ideal. The concept of prison is to reduce the individual's ability to commit further crimes by limiting his freedom. Hence, being in jail is no reason to remove the rights of an individual that are clearly outlined in the constitution, and that includes the RIGHT(not priviledge as u allude) to vote. Besides, the prison is called a correction facility n not a demeaning incaceration system. Therefore, there is no reason why anyone should be deprived of his basic right as a citizen even if serving time or had served time.
However, its like our society wants nothing to do with whoever has seen the inside of a prison, we deny them jobs, accomodation, opportunities, assess to their kids and spouse, and even the right to vote or be voted for. No wonder most ex convicts ends up in prison more than once, they feel thats the only place that accepts them.

futhermore, most european countries allows its prisoners to vote, U.S and U.K are the only advanced countries that denies its prisoners this right.

no oo, when bad people vote for bad people, na bad pple go dy rule 9ja every tenure

R2bees: no oo, when bad people vote for bad people, na bad pple go dy rule 9ja every tenure

As if the perceived good people voting has ever produced good leaders...

toluene12:
That U.S doesn't allow its prisoners to vote does not make it ideal. The concept of prison is to reduce the individual's ability to commit further crimes by limiting his freedom. Hence, being in jail is no reason to remove the rights of an individual that are clearly outlined in the constitution, and that includes the RIGHT(not priviledge as u allude) to vote. Besides, the prison is called a correction facility n not a demeaning incaceration system. Therefore, there is no reason why anyone should be deprived of his basic right as a citizen even if serving time or had served time.
However, its like our society wants nothing to do with whoever has seen the inside of a prison, we deny them jobs, accomodation, opportunities, assess to their kids and spouse, and even the right to vote or be voted for. No wonder most ex convicts ends up in prison more than once, they feel thats the only place that accepts them.

Correct !!

In my own opinion, I honestly do believe that prisoners should have the right to vote. I mean, if they have a right to marry, move, work, religion, etc, just like the unalienable rights, then after their term, they should vote. Nonetheless, they cannot be voted for because they don't stand a chance.

manny4life: In my own opinion, I honestly do believe that prisoners should have the right to vote. I mean, if they have a right to marry, move, work, religion, etc, just like the unalienable rights, then after their term, they should vote. Nonetheless, they cannot be voted for because they don't stand a chance.

You said it yourself: after their term. That's all I've been saying lol.

GooseBaba:
The origin of this laws should be questioned..

You are on the right track, right there. The origin of this law in the US was to prevent as many blacks as possible from voting. All they had to do was lock you up (even with trumped up charges, and then your are knocked out of the voting pool). Yessire!

Roland17:
As if the perceived good people voting has ever produced good leaders...

this one u dey talk like this e be lyk say ur bros dey kirikiri

Yes. They have every right to. Prisons(in the 21st century) are meant to be like a reform system for criminals and other offenders. They should be allowed to contribute towards nation building and have a sense of belonging.

Roland17: I personally believe as humans prisoners posses basic human rights (Except it affects the security of the Nation) which should include the right to elect representatives who would protect and fight for their interest like every other voter, If we claim to be operating a democratic system, i believe it should be wholesome and not disenfranchise a group.

The level of Political Consciousness in Nigeria especially amongst youths is encouraging thus i hope we can debate this intelligently.

Good idea from you. planning for the inevitable?

ogugua88:

The United States is a democracy. Incarcerated felons do not vote with the exception of two states: Maine and Vermont.

If the person is awaiting trial, then he or she can vote. If a prisoner is serving a term, then he or she shouldn't be allowed to vote. It's called punishment. I don't recall misbehaving when I was a child and still being allowed to play with toys and have dessert. You do the crime, you do the time, and that involves losing privileges that people who abide by the law enjoy.

Well said. That's an obvious truth.

Yes they have equal right as any other person but to vote no cos in prison they will never know who is working or not

what right do they need those criminals??that will teach people to stay away from crime.i can imagine rapists and murderers being thot of deserving to vote.vote fo what!!!!!!!why should you even think of such selfish pple who did not think of their offenders before they committed the crime.why suggest nice and warm ideas fo cold hearted selfish human beings who caused pain in other pple"s lives.lets look at ways to reduce domestic violence, teenage pregnancy and poverty!!!!!!!!!!