Posted: Friday, February 28, 2025. 4:36 am CST.
By Horace Palacio: A legal challenge has been launched to allow prisoners on remand at the Belize Central Prison to vote in the upcoming March 12 general election, with Attorney Michelle Trapp Zuniga advocating for their right to participate.
Zuniga, representing the Justice for Humans Project, has written to the Chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission, requesting that prisoners who are serving sentences of twelve months or less and who are registered voters be permitted to cast their ballots. She argues that denying them this right would be a violation of their constitutional freedoms and is calling for arrangements to be made to facilitate their participation.
However, Attorney General Anthony Sylvestre, who was copied in the letter, stated that his office has not received any formal correspondence on the matter.
“I checked with the Chief Elections Officer and my office, and we have not received any specific correspondence as yet,” Sylvestre said. “I read the social media post, and the impression it gave is that some letter was sent recently. As far as my office is concerned, we have not received any such document.”
When asked how authorities would respond if a formal request were submitted, Sylvestre noted that the Elections and Boundaries Commission would need to review it before seeking legal guidance.
The issue is gaining attention as the general election approaches, with questions being raised about the feasibility of granting remand prisoners the right to vote. Critics argue that logistical challenges and security concerns could make implementation difficult, while human rights advocates insist that these individuals remain presumed innocent until proven guilty and should not be stripped of their voting rights.
As the debate continues, it remains unclear whether any action will be taken before March 12, or if the matter will be left for future legal review.
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The post Should prisoners vote? Attorney calls for election access for detainees appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
A legal challenge has been launched to allow prisoners on remand at the Belize Central Prison to vote in the upcoming March 12 general election, with Attorney Michelle Trapp Zuniga advocating for their right to participate.
The post Should prisoners vote? Attorney calls for election access for detainees appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
