Felony disenfranchisement is the exclusion from voting of people otherwise eligible to vote due to conviction of a criminal offense, usually restricted to the more serious class of crimes deemed felonies. People service sentences of five years or more are not allowed to vote while they are in jail. Disenfranchisement does not continue after release from jail/prison. The Commonwealth Franchise Act 1902 denied the franchise to vote to anyone 'attainted of treason, or who had been convicted and is under sentence or subject to be sentenced for any offence, punishable by imprisonment for one year or longer.' In 1995 the act was relaxed to include only people who are serving prison sentences of more than five years.
Statistics are shown for this demographic
Voting for candidate
Local Government Area
Response rates from 324k Australia voters.
66% Yes |
34% No |
47% Yes |
34% No |
10% Yes, but only after completing their sentences and parole/probation |
|
5% Yes, except for felons convicted of murder or violent crimes |
|
4% Yes, every citizen deserves the right to vote |
Trend of support over time for each answer from 324k Australia voters.
Loading data...
Loading chart...
Trend of how important this issue is for 324k Australia voters.
Loading data...
Loading chart...
Unique answers from Australia voters whose views went beyond the provided options.
@4SZQJ485yrs5Y
Voting is mandatory in this country so we don't have a right to vote, we have an obligation. And no one should be forced to do it.
@4TC3QPN5yrs5Y
Abolish government so no one needs to vote.
@4T7R5HX5yrs5Y
Only those who are not on welfare are allowed to vote. Also voting shouldn't be compulsary.
@4T26D3J5yrs5Y
It doesn't matter, voting is a miniscule power and many people who vote are criminals who haven’t been caught.
@4VCWLNQ5yrs5Y
Only if a psychiatrist determines they are in the right head space and isn't trying to get back at the world
@4T94L6M5yrs5Y
raise voting age to 21. raise candidate age too, perhaps to 50.
@4SV8NC65yrs5Y
No, unless of course, they are from the upper class.
@B4QDM5H4wks4W
Yes, but only for those who have a custodial sentence of <12 months and those who have completed their sentences.
Stay up-to-date on the most recent “Criminal Voting Rights” news articles, updated frequently.
Join in on the most popular conversations.
