Who will the Jailbirds support?

[Hank C]

We have all heard the Tory stance on toughening our justice laws. Steven Harper also said that he would put an end to convicted crimnials in prison being able to vote in Canadian elections. So the question remains with criminals still being able to vote in this upcoming election, who do you think the jailbirds will be voting for, the Liberals or the NDP?

 

[unclepercy]

We have all heard the Tory stance on toughening our justice laws. Steven Harper also said that he would put an end to convicted crimnials in prison being able to vote in Canadian elections. So the question remains with criminals still being able to vote in this upcoming election, who do you think the jailbirds will be voting for, the Liberals or the NDP?

ITN, prisoners in the US are not allowed to vote. Right? So, this would be a difference/one of the things I was "researching."

Uncle

 

[paulmartin]

who do you think the jailbirds will be voting for, the Liberals or the NDP?

The liberals. The liberal government has done more for criminals than the NDP. At least Jack Layton would toughen the law. Wouldn't he?

 

[zoofer]

About 35,500 prison inmates eligible to vote
John Cotter, Canadian Press
Published: Monday, January 02, 2006
EDMONTON -- They are Canada's most captive voters.

Behind razor-wired penitentiary walls and minimum security fences, about 35,500 federal and provincial prison inmates are eligible to cast ballots in the federal election.

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Shoemaker, who is into the eighth year of his sentence, says most inmates plan to vote for any party other than the Conservatives.

Prisoners fear the Tories want to make life in prison harsher by taking away comforts such as televisions and stereos, he says. They also believe the Conservatives want to strip them of their right to vote.

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The Liberals and NDP say they can live with the high court's decision.
The Conservatives say they don't have an official policy, but would favour a constitutional amendment to ban voting by federal prison inmates.
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"What they say to me is that it is wrong that these individuals who have broken their obligations to society are now entitled to have the same voice in society," Toews says.

link

Now you know why politicians want prisons built in their ridings.
Not that they actually live where they run.

 

[zoofer]

The court said voting could teach inmates democratic values and social responsibility

8O :roll:

 

[Hank C]

Jack Layton came out with a few good ideas and I think he has a tougher stance than the Liberals now.......probably won't play well to his constituents who prefer to support the criminals rather than the victims.......but nonetheless when the Tories attempt to pass tougher legislation at least they will have NDP support.

 

[paulmartin]

but nonetheless when the Tories attempt to pass tougher legislation at least they will have NDP support

Didn't Jack say he would have a hard time working with the conservatives? I hope they can work together because the NDP have some good Ideas and Judy Wasylycia has impressed me lately. I would like to see the liberal vote siphon off to all other parties. Jack needs to be a bit more vocal about policy while the liberals are reeling.

 

[zoofer]

Jack must have taken a poll.....

 

[poligeek]

I wonder what voter turn out is like in a prison?

Is it above national average because it's something different to do that day?

Or is it below national average because the demographic in prision isn't exactly your typical high-voter-turn-out demographic?

 

[zoofer]

In the 2004 election, 9,250 of an estimated 35,500 eligible prison voters actually participated - a voting rate of about 26 per cent. The national voter turnout was 61 per cent.

More are expected to vote this time around.

 

[Hank C]

In the 2004 election, 9,250 of an estimated 35,500 eligible prison voters actually participated - a voting rate of about 26 per cent. The national voter turnout was 61 per cent.

More are expected to vote this time around.

I wonder of those 26% of criminals in prison who vote, which party they vote for. It would be interesting to see a poll or something. Anyways I would be willing to bet that out of the 3 main parties, the Tories would have the least support....which is probably something to be proud of. :wink:

 

[missile]

This is just one of the extras that has to be taken back from prisoner's rights. Only the non criminal tax paying citizens of our country should have the right to vote. And yes,I imagine they would vote overwhelmingly Liberal.

 

[missile]

Not only jailbirds have the right to vote-mental patients do,too.This might be partial explanation for some of our previous election results.

 

[unclepercy]

Not only jailbirds have the right to vote-mental patients do,too.This might be partial explanation for some of our previous election results.

Missile,
This might also explain why I find Canadian politics so very puzzling.

Why not remove the age limits and let the kids vote? Might as well.

Uncle

 

[FiveParadox]

Prison Votes

With all due respect to my honourable fellow Forum members, the "prison vote" is not as big a deal as it might seem. Those who have been sentenced to prison terms of at least two years are disentitled from voting, as per the Canada Elections Act. That might explain why the prison voter turnout is so low.

4. The following persons are not entitled to vote at an election:

(a) the Chief Electoral Officer;

(b) the Assistant Chief Electoral Officer; and

(c) every person who is imprisoned in a correctional institution serving a sentence of two or more years.

So, just keep in mind that those who had committed more serious crimes would be disentitled from voting in this, the Thirty-ninth General Election, and in any subsequent election until Parliament so otherwise directs.

 

[Colpy]

In the 2004 election, 9,250 of an estimated 35,500 eligible prison voters actually participated - a voting rate of about 26 per cent. The national voter turnout was 61 per cent.

More are expected to vote this time around.

I wonder of those 26% of criminals in prison who vote, which party they vote for. It would be interesting to see a poll or something. Anyways I would be willing to bet that out of the 3 main parties, the Tories would have the least support....which is probably something to be proud of. :wink:

I am curious where their votes are counted......I don't think they are counted where the prison is. Perhaps in the convicts last riding? In the riding where he was convicted?

I don't have a big problem with prisoners voting, nor with mental patients voting.......better too many people be allowed to vote than too few.

 

[paulmartin]

So, just keep in mind that those who had committed more serious crimes would be disentitled from voting in this, the Thirty-ninth General Election, and in any subsequent election until Parliament so otherwise directs.

More serious crime?
What happened to crime and punnishment?

There is one voting bloc that will remain loyal to the Liberals to the very end -- of their sentences.

Yes, Canada's 12,000 or so federal inmates will be voting en masse for Paul Martin and the Liberals.
<Snip>
http://ottsun.canoe.ca/News/Columnists/Harris_Michael/2006/01/06/1380939.html

 

[FiveParadox]

Again, only inmates who are sentenced to two years or less. Let's be clear on this.

 

[paulmartin]

Let me be equaly clear. No convicted criminal should have the right to vote!
The liberal party of canada gave it to them and should be ashamed.

 

[Colpy]

Re: RE: Who will the Jailbirds support?

Let me be equaly clear. No convicted criminal should have the right to vote!
The liberal party of canada gave it to them and should be ashamed.

I believe the SCOC gave it to them.....

Oh Yeah!

Same thing.