Quote Originally Posted by Sir Moody View Post
Honestly I don't get what is such a big deal about prisoners not having the vote...

They are incarcerated because they are being punished for crimes against their fellow citizens and part of that punishment is a suspension of their rights until they are released...

I can see the problems with removing their rights permanently - but temporarily while serving their sentence?
The strength of democracy is that it draws on the experience, insights and abilities of all citizens. This is used for two main purposes. Firstly, to determine the most effective way of going forward in accordance with the majority of the affected. Secondly, to reduce tensions and conflict in society by enabling all voices to be heard.

Removing elements of society from the vote undermines both of those. Especially the last one, since it can be reasonably assumed that prisoners are more likely than the rest of society to be in conflict with established society. Thus, it is extra important that their concerns are heard.

The reasoning for taking their vote away is rubbish at best, with little more than different variations of "politicians will enable crime" and other such fearmongering nonsense.