Prisoners in the Netherlands want mobile polling stations in prisons to be able to cast their votes. The interest group for detainees is therefore filing summary proceedings.
Summation
The lawyer for the interest group for (ex) prisoners BONJO sent a demand to the state on Wednesday, asking the state to set up mobile polling stations in prisons. So that prisoners can cast their votes. Because there was no response in time, she initiated summary proceedings with two prisoners. The AD posted this on its website on Friday.
Public
The problem here is that polling stations must be publicly accessible. But BONJO states that voting rights must be guaranteed according to European regulations. Now prisoners can only vote by authorizing someone. BONJO’s lawyer believes this is unlawful.
In 2017, we managed to get a mobile polling station in a prison in Almelo, after efforts by the director and the municipality. At that time, almost all detainees entitled to vote cast their votes, according to AD.nl
