[GA - withdrawn] Voting Rights for Former Prisoners

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Magecastle

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Voting Rights for Former Prisoners
Category: Civil Rights | Strength: Mild
Proposed by: Millenhaal | Onsite Topic​

This General Assembly,

Recognizing that having been incarcerated at some point in time is an immutable trait, and thereby formerly incarcerated individuals should be protected under international legislation from discrimination because of something that they have done in the past, which is often times not reflective of the individual they have become,

Cognizant that the proposed replacement for GA #419, a resolution that did protect this trait, failed at vote was never enacted into law,

Convinced of the importance of legislation guaranteeing former inmates the right to participate in the democracy in which they live,



  1. Prohibits nations in the World Assembly from preventing an individual from voting equally to non-criminals in any election due to their status as a formerly incarcerated individual, unless said incarceration was for participating in, aiding, or abetting the following crimes:
    1. voter fraud or any related crimes,
    2. covertly aiding an organization or political entity in subverting the formerly incarcerating member state,

  2. Further prohibits methods of voter suppression being employed on formerly incarcerated individuals, such as registration denial and related acts,

  3. Welcomes further legislation expanding the voting rights of actively incarcerated prisoners.
Click to expand...
Note: Only votes from TNP WA nations and NPA personnel will be counted. If you do not meet these requirements, please add (non-WA) or something of that effect to your vote.
Voting Instructions:
  • Vote For if you want the Delegate to vote For the resolution.
  • Vote Against if you want the Delegate to vote Against the resolution.
  • Vote Abstain if you want the Delegate to abstain from voting on this resolution.
  • Vote Present if you are personally abstaining from this vote.
Detailed opinions with your vote are appreciated and encouraged!

ForAgainstAbstainPresent
21501
 
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Against. Not all countries in the world strip prisoners of the right to vote in the first place, I feel this is really being an American issue taken to a WA level. From a civil rights perspective, possibly simpler to guarantee that all prisoners can vote instead.
 
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Against. This is not well-written at all. What is a related crime to voter fraud? What is subversion? Why does aid to a subversive organisation need to be covert to allow people to be disenfranchised? Why is disenfranchisement for political crimes even allowed? What is a method of voter suppression? Who even counts as a criminal?
 
(Non-WA) There are some issues with this, such as the inclusion of aiding and abetting, but not counselling or procuring, the other two types of complicit liability. However, the legislation is nonetheless addressing a worthwhile topic, and its flaws do not mitigate the positive impact that this have. Hence, I am for the proposal.
 
Against

Issues raised already seem sufficient, and would probably be solved by a simpler resolution guaranteeing the right to vote for all instead.
 
Comfed:
Against. This is not well-written at all. What is a related crime to voter fraud? What is subversion? Why does aid to a subversive organisation need to be covert to allow people to be disenfranchised? Why is disenfranchisement for political crimes even allowed? What is a method of voter suppression? Who even counts as a criminal?
Click to expand...

I am in agreement with this. I mean, this should have been drafted much more carefully.
 
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Against

While I agree with the intent, however, denial of rights based on incarceration for voter fraud could potentially be abused by individual member states as it is not well defined. Also, a corrupt government may incarcerate individuals for sedition or treason, only to later have it overturned. These individuals would still have their right to vote removed because of the nature of their previous incarceration.

Honestly, I would rather restore the right to vote for all former felons who have served their time instead of creating any limits to voting rights restoration.
 
Against because, I can't wrap my head around what constitutes a "related crime" to voter fraud? What, attempting to vote twice because the person has dementia and forgot they voted?
 
Author here. Proposal has been withdrawn. It will be resubmitted, so do tell me your feedback and I’ll accommodate. There cannot be a universal suffrage resolution, or even an all prisoner suffrage resolution. It wouldn’t pass.
 
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