Petition · past parliament · Cabinet Office
Remove the ban on prisoners voting from the Representation of the People Act
Closed
119 signatures
What the petition asks
The UK’s ban on prisoners voting was ruled to be in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights in 2005. There are a plethora of benefits to be gained from removing this ban: aiding inmates’ rehabilitation; providing a connection to the outside world; and representing their views.
Denying voting rights to criminals who receive a custodial sentence is dehumanizing and hinders rehabilitation. It also means politicians do not take the rights, needs and interests of prisoners seriously enough. The Representation of the People Act should be amended to remove this ban and allow all prisoners (not just e.g. those released on temporary licence) to vote. Ultimately, voting is a human right, and it is highly unethical to restrict this for so many.
Timeline
| 8 Jun 2022 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 22 Dec 2022 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
119
Status
Closed
Department
Cabinet Office
Opened
8 Jun 2022
Closed
22 Dec 2022
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.