Prisoners may lose right to vote

Lightseed, you are just a sad person who head is too far up the collective rear end on all of Nationals reforms to take away everyones liberties. I have no problems with peoples right to vote in a democratic election especially if it is an informed decision, which I'm sure many people convicted of a minor misdemeanour are fully capable of doing. What bothers me a whole lot more are apathetic voters who instead of abstaining from voting, will go to the polls and choose a candidate with the best looking smile or simply because a friend told them to vote for them.... probably a good proportion of the knobs who voted National in 2008.

Ian, they have taken the rights of others away and have little respect for the law. I agree (in part) with Alex's point of "pending" only, but I believe that anyone who is in prison after being found guilty hasve no rights.
Tell me Stacked much, would you want a criminal who serves 2 years for child abuse to have the power of the vote? I say no way!!!

Alex, I'll write this so it can get past your labour brain. If you want the right to vote, don't be a bad wittle boy. Now be a big wittle boy Alex, and understand the law is for those who are in prison serving a sentence, don't be stupid labour supporter all your life and try to twist everything around.

This proposal is a load of nonsense, how can you take away a persons most basic right, ie the right to vote? for perhaps a 2 month sentence for shop lifting? (maybe to feed a hungry family)
However those little treasures of our community who have been sentenced for violence,drug supplying,armed robbery,and that sorts of crimes; only after a trial and conviction, Yes those skanks=NO VOTE. The maori party won't like this tho, that's their voter base were dealing with.

Lightseed, you obviously didn't understand my message so I'll write it more legibly for you to understand; "why should those who are in custody AND pending charges (while not yet proven guilty) be penalised?". I stand by my argument, voting in general elections is a constitutional right and those who are imprisoned on any non-indictable offences for less than three years should not lose those rights.

I am for zero tolerance on crime and thus support this bill.

And you have to rehabilitate them Lightseed, which means they should be contributing too society in some way to readjust back into society when they are released from prison.

Alot of people in prison have comitted crimes of desperation, theft is an example.

And given this new tax restructure alot more people where be there for stealing to provide for their families.

Not all criminals are rapists and murderers, if you are in prison for these offences you shouldnt get to vote because you arent coming out anytime soon.

But take away the vote from others and you are just harming their chances further of being able to fit into society again.

Alex asks why those in custody should be penalised, ah, duh, because they are in custody and already shown that they have no respect for the rules of the land

The right wings way to stack the vote come election time.

These are traditional labour supporters, National is really trying everything to stay in power next time.

If we take away prisoners right to vote, maybe we can then take it away from the unemployed and Maori they are probably telling themselves.

This is an absurd bill and I hope the rest of parliament reject it before it can be enacted in law. Why should those is custody and pending charges be penalised, as are those serving minor sentences around the time of election day? The three year law is absolutely fine, but a minimum of one day infringes basic rights.