Parliament has been told that stripping all prisoners of the right to vote is an unjustifiable breach of human rights.
The Law and Order Select Committee heard submissions on Wednesday on a bill by National Party MP Paul Quinn, which would deny voting rights to all prisoners.
The current law applies to people serving sentences of three years or more.
The Council of Civil Liberties told the committee the bill would affect 2800 prisoners - 45% of the prison muster - serving less than three years.
It says the move would be entirely symbolic, but voting is a fundamental human right.
The Human Rights Commission says there's no evidence denying prisoners the right to vote will serve as a deterrent.
Chief Commissioner Rosslyn Noonan says the bill is at odds with rehabilitation which requires prisoners to have a sense of connection with society.
The committee will report back to Parliament in October.
