The furore and nonsense over this nonsense defies belief! The felons are locked up for anti-social behavior so why should they enjoy any benefit of society's rights and privileges?

Their incarceration costs NZ taxpayers zillions of dollars annually. In fact, in other jurisdictions, with capital punishment, some offenders wouldn't be alive so voting could be the least of their worries.

Supporting this hogwash are the usual suspects; UN Human Rights Committee, European Court of Human Rights, dysfunctional Waitangi Tribunal, probably Justice Minister Andrew Little with his penchant for placating offenders' woes over victims' rights.

The main driver seems to be an ex-criminal with 38 years in prison and 152 convictions for fraud, burglary, robbery, firearms offences, kidnapping, drug offences and escaping from custody. Readers can draw their own conclusions on this lot of losers.

The following countries essentially don't allow prisoners to vote – USA, Australia, UK (including while on parole, probation with a two years stand down period after release) and last but not least, Singapore which has a blanket ban with zero tolerance and New Zealand should aspire to that.

We have an exploding prison population - 10,000-plus bad eggs at last count and Kiwis must strenuously oppose giving prisoners voting rights.

Anyway how would they vote – with an 'X” or electronically?

Rob Paterson