French Prisoners Cast their Vote in the 2019 European Elections: An ad hoc Analysis of their Electoral Choices and Political Attitudes

Abstract

France belongs to a group of jurisdictions where the vast majority of prisoners retain their right to vote, but where it remained difficult to exercise this right until a March 2019 Act unexpectedly allowed them to vote via a booth and ballot box for the EU parliamentary elections. This article analyses their participation and political choices at a national level. It further presents the result of an ad hoc study conducted in three prisons which explored prisoners' political culture, their interest in political life, their perception of the political challenges and contemporary questions, and their political convictions and values. Our general findings are that prisoners only partially differ from the general population regarding their political choices. At a deeper level, the findings also show that prisoners have more 'political capital' than politicians assume. We conclude with comments on the untapped potential this holds for their reintegration into the community.

“Because I feel like I want to be heard, you know?:” Carceral citizenship and collateral consequences

“…First, ascertaining one's eligibility can be much more difficult than it appears, partly because in so many states one must first determine what fees, fines, surcharges, or other costs must be paid first prior to registration (Colgan, 2019). That is a heavy "administrative burden" (Herd & Moynihan, 2019) to lift. Second, there is a real risk of being prosecuted for unlawful voting, which has occurred recently in at least three states (Levine, 2022; see also Meredith & Morse, 2015, p. 43).…”

“…These questions, in this setting, most likely elicited or brought forward values and ideas subjects already held. Political discussion itself, then, may have the potential to nurture civic connection, as Herzog‐Evans and Thomas concluded after surveying French prisoners about voting (Herzog‐Evans & Thomas, 2019, p. 522). Seen in that light, caveats point to opportunities.…”

“…And evidence does remain strong that “most people convicted of felonies are, at best, nonvoters or peripheral voters” (T. Burch, 2011, p. 724). Where incarcerated people in the United States are eligible to vote, it appears that very few do so (White & Nguyen, 2022), and that seems to be true in France and Ireland, as well (Behan, 2014; Behan & O'Donnell, 2008; Herzog‐Evans & Thomas, 2019). 11 Alongside misinformation, social norms, poverty, health challenges, lack of formal education, and logistical barriers likely pose formidable obstacles.…”