[Passed] [ga]: Voting Rights Guarantees

[Lenlyvit]

General Assembly Resolution

Voting Rights Guarentees

A resolution to improve worldwide human and civil rights.

Category: Civil Rights

Strength: Mild

Proposed by: Simone Republic

The World Assembly (WA),

Defining:

a. "bod(ies)" to mean any body/bodies of government in a WA member state with legislative, judicial, consultative, or other powers (substantive or otherwise) at national and/or all sub-national levels;

b. "election(s)" to mean elections for representatives to the said bod(ies), including any preliminary elections, or consultative meetings for choosing representatives such as caucuses;

c. "voters" to mean anyone who is eligible to participate in the said elections, notwithstanding that a registration process may be required by a member state prior to participation;

Hereby requires:

1. No one in any WA member state that is otherwise eligible to be a voter shall be denied the right to vote (and/or to register to vote), for any bod(ies) on account of the following immutable characteristics:

a. Current status of incarceration (including work release, parole, half-way houses and home confinement);

b. Previous records of incarceration (including parole) and criminal conviction;

c. Failure to repay any debts due in full or in part (including liens, fines, penalties, taxes and fees payable pursuant to any legislation or regulation at any level of government);

2. Any interpretation of this resolution by the judiciary of a WA member state shall be for the benefit of anyone who would otherwise be denied the aforesaid rights.

Co-author: Millenhaal

This is the discussion thread. To cast your vote, go HERE

[Jabberwocky]

Certain crimes merit the withdrawal of voting rights. Against

[Pantso]

Jabberwocky is absolutely right. No WA member should be required to recognize a right to vote for citizens who have been convicted of election-related offenses. Better to let nations decide whether crimes merit the removal or restriction of voting privileges than to ban it entirely based on incarceration status or criminal record. Pantso is Against as well.

I almost voted against just on the basis of the typo in the title. Was it corrected afterward (it's right in the WA proposal) or was this typed out by hand in the forum?

[westernoceania]

Convicts should not bea allowed to vote while in prison. When they leave, they should have that right returned. The law is a social contract that people are forced to follow. Breaking that contract should merit having one's voting rights removed.

[Astrobolt]

I fail to see why people should not be allowed to vote while in prison. Prison isn't about punishing someone, but rehabilitating a person so they can they function in society once released. Preventing them from exercising their democratic rights do not further this goal.

I am also deeply alarmed whenever the state has the power to take away a person's right to vote. This is ripe for abuse by wannabe autocrats who will rig the rules in their favour and do whatever they can to cling to power.

Strong FOR.

[westernoceania]

I would argue that there will always be overreach. Autocrats will always try to expand their power, but that does not mean that we cannot have strict regulations.

[Astrobolt]

May 13, 2023 10:54:34 GMT -5 westernoceania said:

I would argue that there will always be overreach. Autocrats will always try to expand their power, but that does not mean that we cannot have strict regulations.

I fail to see the point of regulations, it doesn’t serve any purpose. If we look at RL, there are many examples of this being used to benefit particular parties or individals, such as in the United States, where many jurisdictions actually created laws with the goal of arresting individuals and therefore depriving them of their right to vote.

[Lenlyvit]

Since the forum poll is tied I've gone with the on-site vote, which is for.