Prisoners given right to vote again
Australia
Federal Parliament has passed legislation to overturn a ban on prisoners voting and to increase the amount of time people have to enrol once an election is called.
The Government says it is implementing two High Court decisions - one that overturned the Howard government's ban on prisoners voting and another that found electoral roles cannot be closed on the day writs are issued.
Prisoners serving a sentence under three years will now be able to vote and people will have seven days to enrol after election writs are issued.
Special Minister of State Gary Gray says the Government respects the Court's decisions.
"The amendments moved in 2006 were both unfortunate and inconsistent with both the spirit and the good governance of our electoral codes - they should not have happened," he said.
"The High Court agreed with that and the Government and the Parliament have today spoken on that matter."
A mixture of law, politics, autobiography and humour. Once described as "The Devilish Advocate" (Guardian), I do have the ability to provoke a response. Sometimes it comes from someone who uses a thought process, and sometimes from jerks usually associated with the knee.
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