Prisoners are Still Denied the Opportunity to Participate in Voting

We all know that our country prepares to go to the polls to elect members to the 15th Lok Sabha. But prisoners is still denied the opportunity to participate in the world’s largest democratic exercise.Even in Kerala, things are no different.

There are three central jails, two open jails, seven special sub-jails, 29 sub-jails and three district jails in the State. About 7,000 persons are imprisoned. They include both convicts and under-trials.

The majority of them possess all necessary documents to enable them to vote. Yet, they are denied the right to vote. This is in spite of the fact that the Constitution does not bar them from voting.