The Mercurian Empire
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Voting Rights Suspension During Investigation/Imprisonment
http://www.hermertia.com/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=866
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Author:  Wysterian Labourer's Council [ July 27th, 2016, 2:57 am ]
Post subject:  Voting Rights Suspension During Investigation/Imprisonment

This proposal is no longer supported by Wysteria or Duke Nicholas II.

Greetings,

As part of the general discussion concerning the Carta and voting rights going on right now it has come to our attention that provisions should be made for suspension of voting rights under the rare circumstance where individuals are currently undergoing investigation by the Imperial Court or are in prison. The reasoning here is fairly straightforward: criminal trials and imprisonment should certainly continue to be a rare thing in our peaceful world, but it makes sense to limit an imprisoned Duke's voting abilities so that a) an individual imprisoned cannot affect legislation to teh same degree as Duke who have not committed a crime, and b) that same individual's inaction in teh legislative process wouldn't drag down voting thresholds for bills.

The proposed language is as follows:

Any individual awaiting legal trial by the Imperial Court or imprisoned following a legal trial will have their voting rights suspended until either released or the trial is concluded or is deemed inequitable.

Author:  Darius V [ July 27th, 2016, 3:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Voting Rights Suspension During Investigation/Imprisonme

I agree with this proposition entirely.

Author:  Cerdic Accynnafon [ July 27th, 2016, 3:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Voting Rights Suspension During Investigation/Imprisonme

I support this law.

Author:  The Chairman [ July 27th, 2016, 3:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Voting Rights Suspension During Investigation/Imprisonme

I disagree with this language, in particular the part mentioning those awaiting trial. This is punishing accused persons before they have been convicted of anything, presuming they are guilty until proven innocent. This opens up the dangerous possibility of criminal charges being brought against a Duke or King solely to prevent them from voting on legislation.

I also do not agree that imprisoned persons should be universally denied the right to vote as the severity of crimes and the character of those imprisoned for them can vary and has varied greatly.

Author:  Petra Ravnikaar [ July 27th, 2016, 3:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Voting Rights Suspension During Investigation/Imprisonme

Withholding until some changes are made.

Author:  Gimpy V [ July 27th, 2016, 3:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Voting Rights Suspension During Investigation/Imprisonme

What Chairman said.

Author:  Arcel [ July 27th, 2016, 4:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Voting Rights Suspension During Investigation/Imprisonme

In agreement with Chairman here. Voting rights should certainly not be revoked while under investigation (presumption of innocence and all that), and arguably should only be revoked when found guilty of serious crimes (i.e. accidentally killing someone is illegal and punishable by law, but is not so severe as to warrant the removal of voting rights during the resulting punishment period).

Author:  King Erastil [ July 27th, 2016, 4:11 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Voting Rights Suspension During Investigation/Imprisonme

After some discussion in the mumble, we have come up with some revised wording

Any individual awaiting legal trial with evidence to create reasonable suspicion by the Imperial Court or imprisoned following a legal trial will have their voting rights suspended until either released or the trial is concluded or is deemed inequitable.

Author:  The Chairman [ July 27th, 2016, 4:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Voting Rights Suspension During Investigation/Imprisonme

While this language is a slight improvement, it (partially) resolves only one (and actually the least) of my concerns -- the use of this as a political weapon. Still, one should not be punished before conviction and we shouldn't universally deprive the imprisoned of voting rights.

Author:  Arcel [ July 27th, 2016, 4:21 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Voting Rights Suspension During Investigation/Imprisonme

Still in agreement with Chairman here. Any punishment (i.e. loss of voting rights) preceding determination of guilt is a non-starter for me.

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