OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights holds press conference on preliminary results of early presidential elections in Uzbekistan.
During the conference, the focus was on the safe conduct of electoral processes in various regions, measures taken to prevent violations, and the establishment of polling stations in correctional facilities. According to legislative amendments introduced in 2023 in Uzbekistan, unlike previous elections, convicts serving sentences for serious and particularly serious crimes in correctional facilities also participated in the elections for the first time this year.
Officials stated that 33,753 individuals in custody have the right to vote in the elections. To ensure their legal right, a total of 48 polling stations were set up in correctional facilities and detention centers in coordination with the Central Election Commission. The right of every convict to participate in the elections was fully guaranteed.
Additionally, a total of 272 events involving guardians of candidates with convicts in custody and detention centers were organized during the campaign.
Criminal disenfranchisement has been a common practice in the United States, often resulting in the permanent loss of voting rights for offenders. The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) has classified states into four categories based on their approach to this issue. It is worth noting that "automatic restoration" does not imply automatic voter registration.
Usually, prison officials inform election commissions about the restoration of rights, and individuals must go through standard re-registration processes. Some states, such as California, require providing voter registration information to formerly incarcerated individuals. Overall, the restoration of voting rights for convicted individuals varies significantly from state to state.
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