22 Mar 2010

National MP stands by prison vote bill

7:30 am on 22 March 2010

National Party MP Paul Quinn is standing by his member's bill seeking to remove the right to vote for all prisoners.

Attorney-General Chris Finlayson has considered the legislation, saying it is irrational and too blunt an instrument.

At present, only prisoners sentenced to more than three years in jail are not allowed to cast a ballot.

In a report on the bill, Mr Finlayson says the general principle is that only serious offenders should be prevented from voting.

He questions whether someone in jail, for example, for traffic fines, should be denied the right to vote.

The report finds the bill is irrational and goes too far.

But Mr Quinn says people committing serious crimes still receive sentences of less than three years and the law should cover all prisoners.