The official site of the Prime Minister’s Office

More details from petition creator

On 6 October 2005 the European Court of Human Rights upheld its ruling that: "[The] removal of the vote... runs counter to the rehabilitation of the offender as a law-abiding member of the community and undermines the authority of the law as derived from a legislature which the community as a whole votes into power."

It was also shown that there is “No evidence disenfranchisement help[s] to prevent crime.”

Being in prison does not remove the responsibility of paying tax, and so it should not remove the right of a vote.

The current system creates a false divide between those who are sent to prison, and those who escape with lighter sentences for similar crimes.

With prison overcrowding at such a dangerous level, it is almost impossible for wardens to do their jobs as well as they would like. This can only lead to a decrease in time spent on rehabilitation, leading to our re-offending rate of well over 50%.

If prisoners were given the right to vote, the government would have to pay more attention to the failures of the prison system.

The government's current position is illegal. Unless it is planned to withdraw the Human Rights Act, the government must adhere to this ruling.

Current signatories

Simon Stewart, the Petition Creator, joined by:

• Richard Stretton
• Patrick Edwards
• Paul Wooldridge
• Daniel Jones
• J RICHARDS
• UNLOCK, The National Association of Reformed Offenders
• Chris Bath
• Julie Wright
• Bobby Cummines. FRSA
• Geoff Dobson
• Katie Aston
• andy aresti
• Clive Martin
• John Edward Anthony Samuels
• rodney east
• Flo Krause
• Johanne Enright
• elkan abrahamson
• Dawn Tracey Wilson
• Penelope Gibbs
• John Atkins
• Cos Michael
• Norman Franklin
• Christopher Stacey
• Geoff Pooley
• Slaney Wright
• Lucia Viegas
• Andrew Main
• Jill Stevens
• Mel Lane
• Ed Zimmer
• Shona
• Adam Casey
• Jo Jacques
• Rex Regan
• Richard Carling
• Jon Collins
• Sandra Beeton
• Tanya Holman
• Carole Brown
• Peter Olech