Prisoner Voting

Analysis on Limitations Regarding Prisoner Voting using American and Canadian Cases

Erick Reyes-Sagastume (6084701)

POLI 1P91

TA NAME

Brock University

Suffrage is the right to vote in political elections, however, throughout the history of the right to vote, the term suffrage has been tampered to a point where it only favours the upper echelon of the social scale. For an example, the Canadian women’s suffrage movement was a progression that took several decades that targeted the conflict and struggle that Canadian women had to endure whilst fighting for their equality. Although the right to vote has elevated to what it once was there is a certain group of society who are exempt of their right to vote due to the same reason

Sauvé v. Canada proved to be a step in the right direction in terms of universal suffrage that incarcerated citizens had to endure during and after their sentencing. In 1993, the Supreme Court of Canada revised the Canada Elections Act and denied the right to vote to inmate who were serving a prison sentence of more than two years. Richard Sauvé was convicted of murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison and was relinquished of his right to vote since he was serving a sentence longer than two years, Sauvé exercised his right to vote and stated that “denying prisoners the right to vote

A goal of elections is for communities working together to achieve a common good that creates social ties and some sort of social stability. Granting prisoners, currently or previously sentenced the right to vote gives them the psychological and sociological rehabilitation in order for them to express their political right. Although prisoners are social outcasts they are familiarized with political standpoints and are well informed citizens given their free time to watch television or read the newspaper, allowing prisoners to vote helps them reintegrate into society no matter how long their sentence may be. However, felony disenfranchisement increases “the social distance between the offender and the community, and reaffirms his/her feelings of alienation and isolation. This may impede his/her acceptance and respect of the social norms and rule of law” (Dhami, 2009, p. 10). Courts should strike down the limits on prisoner voting because it promotes inequality and prisoners own the right to vote. With this being done, this not only helps the prisoners reintegrate themselves into society, but it also does not go against their right and responsibility to vote. In order for this to happen, the United States should look to the policies Canada has implemented to guarantee current or former prisoners are able to express their right to vote which includes allowing the