Should prisoners be allowed to vote in democratic elections?

The debate over whether prisoners should be allowed to vote in democratic elections taps into deep questions about justice, citizenship, and human rights. Known as prisoner voting rights, this issue revolves around whether individuals who are incarcerated should retain the right to participate in elections during their sentence. In many democratic countries, voting is seen as a fundamental right tied to citizenship—yet this right is restricted or revoked for prisoners in places like the United States, while others, like Norway and South Africa, allow inmates to cast their ballots even while serving time. Historically, disenfranchising prisoners has roots in ancient laws that viewed criminals as having broken a "social contract" and thus forfeited civic rights. In modern times, these laws became widespread in the 19th and 20th centuries, especially in nations influenced by British legal traditions. However, since the early 2000s, international human rights organizations and courts have increasingly questioned blanket bans on prisoner voting, arguing they undermine democratic inclusion and rehabilitation. The conversation has picked up in recent years with movements pushing for voting rights reform, especially in countries facing mass incarceration or racial disparities in their prison populations. Key questions include: Should all prisoners be allowed to vote? Should the right depend on the crime committed? And does denying the vote serve justice, or simply silence voices?