Prisoner Participation in the 2009 General Elections
In view of the upcoming general elections we wish to remind all
prisoners who are South African citizens that they are entitled to
participate in the national and provincial elections. We also wish to
remind organisations or individuals working in prisons and correctional
facilities to remind prisoners of this right. Their right to vote was
confirmed in two Constitutional Court decisions. Given South Africa's
particular history, the right to vote is central to our democracy. As
Judge Sachs put it in August v The
Electoral Commission:
"Universal adult suffrage on a common
voters roll is one of the foundational values of our entire
constitutional order. The achievement of the franchise has historically
been important both for the acquisition of the rights of full and
effective citizenship by all South Africans regardless of race, and for
the accomplishment of an all-embracing nationhood. The universality of
the franchise is important not only for nationhood and democracy. The
vote of each and every citizen is a badge of dignity and of personhood.
Quite literally, it says that everybody counts."
Prisoners who wish to participate in the elections need to be
registered as voters. The Civil Society Prison Reform Initiative has
just learnt that the registration of prisoners for the elections will
take place during the week of 2-5
February 2009. Prisoners, as is the case with all other eligible
voters, will require their identity documents to register and to
participate in the elections. As many prisoners often do not have their
identity documents with them in prison but left it with their family
members, we encourage family members of prisoners and organisations and
individuals working in prisons to assist as a matter of urgency in this
regard and ensure that the prisoners' identity documents are brought to
them in prison to enable them cast their votes.
The Civil Society Prison Reform Initiative encourages eligible
prisoners to participate in the upcoming elections.
For further information on the elections and registration, the
Independent Electoral Commission should be contacted.
For comment:
Lukas Muntingh
lmuntingh@uwc.ac.za
021-959 2950
082 200 6395