Prisoner Voting

The Committee considered a letter from Patrick Harvie MSP on 29 June 2017 regarding the issue of prisoner voting. Mr Harvie requested the Committee consider this as part of its work programme. On 29 June, the Committee agreed to hold an evidence gathering scoping session. This took place on 7 September 2017.

•  Letter from Patrick Harvie MSP to the Equalities and Human Rights Committee
•  Minutes of the meeting 29 June 2017 (65KB pdf) 

Timetable

29 June 2017: The Committee agreed to undertake a scoping exercise on the issue of prisoner voting in Scotland.

7 September 2017: oral evidence session

25 January 2018: oral evidence session

Ongoing: The Committee has written to various bodies. It will consider their responses and decide what action it will take. For further information, please contact the Clerks to the Committee.

Evidence

The Committee held an evidence session on prisoner voting rights on 7 September 2017.

Official Report of meeting, 7 September

Written submissions

• Electoral Commission for Scotland (26KB pdf)
• Electoral Management Board Scotland (198KB pdf)
• Howard League Scotland (137KB pdf)
• Prison Reform Trust (58KB pdf)
• Scottish Assessors Association (96KB pdf)
• Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (46KB pdf)
• Scottish Prison Service (1.7MB pdf)
• Video of 7 September meeting
• Snapshot of the key issues raised at 7 September meeting (360KB pdf)
• Minutes of the meeting, 7 September 2017 (42KB pdf)

The Committee held a further evidence session on prisoner voting on 25 January 2018.

Official Report of meeting, 25 January

Written submissions

• Emma Trottier (360KB pdf)
• Government of Ireland (Dept of Housing, Planning and Local Government) (350KB pdf)
• Annex A (276KB pdf)
• Annex B (99KB pdf)
• Annex C (99KB pdf)
• Annex D (121KB pdf)
• Annex E (80KB pdf)
• Annex F (87KB pdf)
• Annex G (268KB pdf)
• Submission from Colin Murray, Newcastle Law School, Newcastle University
• Submission from Quakers in Scotland

CORRESPONDENCE

Following evidence, the Committee agreed to write to the following for further information:

• Letter to the Minister for Parliamentary Business, 22 September 2017 (41KB pdf)
• Response from the Minister for Parliamentary Business, 11 October 2017 (206KB pdf)
• Letter from the Minister for Parliamentary Business on prisoner voting and electoral reform, 19 December 2017 (114KB pdf)
• Letter to Dr C Behan, 21 September 2017 (99KB pdf)
• Response from Dr C Behan, 10 October 2017 (143KB pdf)
• Letter to Lord President of the Court of Session, 21 September 2017 (98KB pdf)
• Response from Lord President of the Court of Session, 26 September 2017 (431KB pdf)
• Letter to Victim Support Scotland, 22 September 2017 (98KB pdf)
• Response from Victim Support Scotland, 11 October 2017 (172KB pdf)
• Letter to the UK Ministry of Justice, 13 February 2017 (99KB pdf)
• Response from UK Ministry of Justice, 23 March 2018 (59KB pdf)
• Letter to Convener of Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee, 2 July 2019
• Response from Convener of Standards, Procedures and Public Appointment Committee 12 September 2019

The Scottish Government responded to the Prisoner Voting report on 5 July 2018:

• Response to EHRiC Report on Prisoner Voting, 5 July 2018 (123KB pdf)