Now criminals could be let out of jail to vote

PRISONERS could be escorted to polling booths under a proposal to end the blanket voting ban on most convicted criminals in Scotland’s jails.

MSPs on Holyrood’s equalities and human rights committee are examining a plan to axe the outright ban on most inmates being able to vote.

Some prisoners – for example those awaiting trial – are allowed to cast their vote by post, but the vast majority of convicts are barred from the ballot box.

Today, Green co-convener Patrick Harvie will call for Scotland to become a ‘beacon of fairness’ as he urges the parliamentary committee to allow more prisoners to vote, particularly those nearing release.

Documents presented to the committee by the Electoral Management Board for Scotland (EMBS) show one possible plan would be for ‘prisoners… to be escorted to a polling place to allow them to vote’.

But it admits there ‘may be a risk of absconding and an associated threat to the public during the transport to and from the polling place’.

Scottish Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: ‘There is absolutely no public appetite for prisoners to be allowed to vote. Most people think when someone commits a crime serious enough to result in a prison term, they also give up their right to cast their vote.

‘But considering the SNP wants to empty jails of as many offenders as possible, it may not even be an issue by the time the next election comes around.’

MSPs are to consider the issue after more power over elections was devolved to the Scottish parliament.

The committee will also take evidence from former offender Beverley Smith and David Strang, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland, as well as leading figures from the Law Society, the EMBS, and the Howard League for Penal Reform.

Mr Harvie previously tried to change the franchise so that prisoners could take part in the 2014 independence referendum, with MSPs from the SNP, Labour, the Tories and the Lib Dems all voting against his amendments.

He said: ‘The UK Tory Government may want to scrap the Human Rights Act, but the SNP have supported it, as do the Greens.

‘It is therefore a point of principle that Holyrood must change the law to comply with human rights.

‘The blanket ban must therefore be ended. Stopping all prisoners voting, regardless of the nature of their offence or the length of their sentence, breaches human rights.’

Mr Harvie continued: ‘Prisoners, especially those due for release, should be faced with their responsibilities as members of the society to which they will return.

‘Giving prisoners the right to vote would also give politicians an incentive to take the state of our prisons seriously, and invest in the rehabilitation services which will make all our communities safer.

‘If we want Scotland to become a beacon for fairness, and if we believe in rehabilitating offenders, we must look at the options, have the debate, and end the ban.’

Speaking ahead of the meeting, committee convener Christina McKelvie said: ‘Our committee wants to air the main issues and hear about the practical aspects of prisoners voting.’

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘It would be for the Scottish parliament as a whole to consider prisoner voting.’

‘May be a risk of absconding’