CEDH · CASELAW;DECISIONS;ADMISSIBILITY;ENG — 13 mai 2014

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They were represented before the Court by Taylor & Kelly, a firm of solicitors based in Coatbridge. A.     The circumstances of the case 2.     The applicants are convicted prisoners. 1.     The Dunn applicants 3.     Mr Dunn and 18 other applicants lodged their applications between 9   December 2009 and 26 March 2010. They complained that they were prevented from voting in the following elections: elections to the Scottish Parliament on 3 May 2007; elections to the European Parliament on 4 June 2009; and local government elections. They also noted in their application forms that “elections to the UK Parliament are forthcoming”. Following the lodging of their application forms, no further correspondence was received in respect of the applications. 2.     The Bonnar applicants 4.     Mr Bonnar and 110 other applicants lodged their applications between 17 November 2010 and 12 April 2011. They complained that they were prevented from voting in the following elections: elections to the Scottish Parliament on 3 May 2007; elections to the European Parliament on 4 June 2009; the parliamentary election on 6 May 2010; and local government elections. They also noted in their application forms that “elections to the Scottish Parliament are forthcoming”. Following the lodging of their application forms, no further correspondence was received in respect of the applications. 3.     Mr Hamza 5.     Mr Hamza lodged his application on 27 January 2010. On 18 August 2008 the Electoral Registration Officer had refused to register him on the electoral roll. The decision had been upheld by Aberdeen Sheriff Court on 10   November 2008. Mr Hamza complained about the refusal to register him on the electoral roll for domestic elections and the “forthcoming elections to the European Parliament”. B.     Relevant domestic law and practice 6.     For details of the relevant domestic law and practice see the Court’s decision in McLean and Cole v. the United Kingdom (dec.), nos. 12626/13 and 2522/12, §§ 5-12, 11 June 2013. COMPLAINTS 7.     The applicants (with the exception of Mr Hamza) complained under Article 3 of Protocol No. 1 to the Convention that they were subject to a blanket ban on voting in elections and had been prevented from voting in a number of elections (see paragraphs 3-4 above). 8.     Mr Hamza complained about the refusal to register him on the electoral roll for domestic and EU elections (see paragraph 5 above). 9.     Finally, the applicants complained of a violation of Articles 6 and 13 on the grounds that they were refused legal aid to pursue domestic proceedings in respect of their complaints and that they had no effective remedy to address their complaints under Article 3 of Protocol No. 1. THE LAW A.     Joinder of the applications 10.     Given their similar factual and legal background, the Court decides that the applications should be joined pursuant to Rule 42 § 1 of the Rules of Court. B.     Complaints under Article 3 of Protocol No. 1 by the Dunn applicants and the Bonner applicants 11.     In McLean and Cole , cited above, § 24, the Court held that in order for a complaint concerning the right to vote at a particular election to be admissible, it had to be lodged within six months of the election in question. 12.     The dates of lodging of the applications in respect of the Dunn applicants were after 9 December 2009. The Dunn applicants’ complaints about the elections to the Scottish Parliament on 3 May 2007 and the European Parliament on 4 June 2009 have therefore been lodged outside the time-period allowed by Article 35 § 1 of the Convention and must be declared inadmissible pursuant to Article 35 § 4. 13.     The dates of lodging of the applications in respect of the Bonnar applicants were after 17 November 2010. The Bonnar applicants’ complaints about the elections to the Scottish Parliament in May 2007, the European Parliament in June 2009 and the United Kingdom Parliament on 6   May 2010 have therefore been lodged outside the time-period allowed by Article 35 § 1 of the Convention and must be declared inadmissible pursuant to Article 35 § 4. 14.     In McLean and Cole , cited above, § 30, the Court concluded that local government bodies in the United Kingdom did not form part of the “legislature” within the meaning of Article 3 of Protocol No. 1. The Dunn and Bonnar applicants’ complaints about their exclusion from local government elections are accordingly incompatible ratione materiae with the provisions of the Convention and its Protocols and inadmissible under Article 35 §§ 3 (a) and 4. 15.     At the time the Dunn applicants lodged their applications, elections to the United Kingdom Parliament were scheduled to take place on 6 May 2010. Although the Dunn applicants referred in their application forms to the “forthcoming” elections to the United Kingdom Parliament, they did not articulate clear complaints as regards any potential exclusion from those elections (see paragraph 3 above). Similarly, at the time the Bonnar applicants lodged their applications, elections to the Scottish Parliament were scheduled to take place on 5 May 2011. Although the Bonnar applicants referred in their application forms to the “forthcoming” elections to the Scottish Parliament, they did not articulate clear complaints as regards any potential exclusion from those elections (see paragraph 4 above). In these circumstances it is questionable whether any valid complaints about the elections in question have actually been made by the Dunn and Bonnar applicants. 16.     In any event, in their application forms the present applicants gave no details of the dates of their conviction or the lengths of their sentences. It was therefore far from evident that they were expected to be in post ‑ conviction detention on the date of the future elections in question. Even if these details had been provided, other relevant events might have occurred between the lodging of the applications and the date of the election. Such events include release from detention, for example, in accordance with early release provisions or following a successful appeal against conviction or sentence. In more extreme cases, transfer to a psychiatric hospital or even death might intervene to prevent an applicant from suffering any adverse effect from the ban on voting currently applied to prisoners. Although some of the applicants may well have remained in detention and therefore found themselves excluded from voting in the elections concerned, none of the applicants contacted the Court following the date of the election to confirm that this was the case. 17.     Satisfaction of the admissibility criteria in Articles 34 and 35 is a prerequisite for consideration of the substantive complaints lodged by applicants. This reflects the subsidiary nature of the Convention system. In its decision of 11 June 2013 in McLean and Cole , cited above, § 21, the Court expressly stated that “[a]s the legislation precluding the participation of prisoners in the franchise applies only to prisoners in detention following conviction, any applicant not in post-conviction detention on the date of the relevant election suffered no adverse effect as a result of the legislation”. It warned that if the first applicant in that case was not in post-conviction detention on the dates of the impugned elections, his complaints would be inadmissible on the basis that he could not claim to be a victim of any violation of Article 3 of Protocol No. 1. The applicants in the present case have had ample time even since that decision to supplement their applications by confirming that they were in post-conviction detention on the date of the elections which were “forthcoming” at the time of the lodging of their application forms. However, no such supplementary information has been received. 18.     In conclusion, even if the Dunn and Bonnar applicants are to be taken as having properly complained about elections that had not yet taken place by the date on which they lodged their application forms, they have failed to adduce the necessary facts to substantiate their complaints. The complaints must therefore be rejected as manifestly ill-founded pursuant to Articles 34 and 35 §§ 3 (a) and 4 of the Convention. C.     Complaints under Article 3 of Protocol No. 1 by Mr Hamza 19.     Mr Hamza complained about the refusal to register his name on the electoral roll in 2008 and about his ineligibility to vote in domestic and European Parliamentary elections. Since he lodged his application in January 2010 it is plain that complaints about the 2008 refusal, any previous domestic elections and the June 2009 election were lodged outside the six ‑ month time-limit. 20.     In so far as he can be taken to have complained about his exclusion from voting in elections which had not yet occurred by the date on which he lodged his application, his complaint is inadmissible for the general reasons given at paragraphs 16-18 above. D.     Other complaints 21.     The applicants also complained under Articles 6 and 13 of the Convention about their access to legal aid and the availability of effective remedies. Having regard to its findings in Greens and M.T. v. the United Kingdom , nos. 60041/08 and 60054/08, §§ 39-40, ECHR 2010 (extracts), and McLean and Cole , cited above, §§ 39-40, and in the light of all the material in its possession, the Court finds that these complaints do not disclose any appearance of a violation of the rights and freedoms set out in the Convention or its Protocols. 22.     It follows that the complaints are manifestly ill-founded and must be rejected in accordance with Article 35 §§ 3 (a) and 4 of the Convention. For these reasons, the Court by a majority Joins the applications; Declares the applications inadmissible. Françoise Elens-Passos   Ineta Ziemele   Registrar   President   No Application No Lodged on Applicant Date of birth Place of residence   7408/09 27/01/2010 Mohammad HAMZA 19/05/1980 Peterhead     The Dunn applicants   No Application No Lodged on Applicant Date of birth Place of residence   566/10 09/12/2009 Richard DUNN 12/10/1979 Tullibody     578/10 09/12/2009 Thomas LEE 25/06/1968 Kilmarnock     587/10 09/12/2009 Christopher WARD 17/02/1982 Tullibody     596/10 09/12/2009 Robin JENKINS 20/05/1954 Peterhead     626/10 09/12/2009 Colin SWANSON 25/04/1964 Perth     638/10 09/12/2009 Francis MC VEY 05/04/1935 Dumfries     2005/10 30/12/2009 James THOMSON 11/04/1951 Edinburgh     3448/10 14/01/2010 John KENNEDY 18/01/1970 Dumfries               7829/10 25/01/2010 Alistair FINDLAY 20/05/1959 Dumfries               10264/10 11/02/2010 Darren NICOLL 13/11/1984 Perth               15009/10 05/03/2010 John RUTH 21/07/1983 Peterhead               15010/10 05/03/2010 Kenneth SMITH 04/12/1963 Dumfries               15035/10 05/03/2010 Angus SINCLAIR 07/06/1945 Peterhead               15204/10 03/03/2010 Brian TURNBULL 15/08/1965 Peterhead               15223/10 03/03/2010 George TOWNSLEY 17/09/1954 Dumfries               15246/10 03/03/2010 Alexander David MC CLURE 30/11/1975 Dumfries               15860/10 11/03/2010 Brian HUNTER 20/05/1957 Peterhead               16838/10 18/03/2010 Emile SZULA 27/05/1953 Forfar               18022/10 26/03/2010 Patrick John NICOL 14/08/1981 Dundee     The Bonnar applicants   No Application No Lodged on Applicant Date of birth Place of residence             20498/11 25/03/2011 Colin BONNAR 10/02/1979 Shotts               62874/11 30/03/2011 Martin BLACK 09/03/1976 Shotts               62984/11 18/03/2011 Charles BRANNAN 30/09/1969 Shotts               63165/11 29/03/2011 John BROWN 07/10/1971 Edinburgh               63208/11 22/12/2010 Paul BRYCELAND 08/06/1973 Shotts               63469/11 17/11/2010 Gavin BROWN 10/11/1972 Shotts               63498/11 07/02/2011 Trevor BUCK 04/11/1960 Stirling               63911/11 16/01/2011 David CARRUTHERS 10/02/1975 Shotts               63933/11 24/03/2011 Derek CARSWELL 01/12/1966 Kilmarnock               64171/11 28/01/2011 Peter CHEAPE 10/06/1968 Tullibody               64269/11 28/01/2011 James CLARK 09/12/1963 Kilmarnock               64477/11 04/01/2011 John CLARKSON 15/12/1960 Shotts               64609/11 07/02/2011 Kevin CONNOR 25/07/1973 Shotts               64847/11 23/03/2011 Paul CURRAN 26/07/1974 Addiewell               64860/11 24/11/2010 Gary CURRIE 15/02/1971 Bowhouse               65112/11 20/01/2011 Christopher DENCH 07/09/1969 Tullibody               65149/11 29/03/2011 Albert DICKIE 29/05/1948 Peterhead               65165/11 23/03/2011 Gerald DOCHERTY 12/02/1967 West Lothian               65543/11 05/01/2011 Aaron ELDER 18/06/1975 Shotts               65580/11 10/03/2011 Paul FALCONER 10/12/1967 Tullibody               65806/11 21/01/2011 Robert FISHER 18/02/1970 Addiewell               65848/11 19/11/2010 John FORSYTH 09/08/1951 Peterhead               65920/11 29/03/2011 Scott GIBB 09/04/1980 Tullibody               65938/11 23/03/2011 Alan GILLESPIE 26/07/1985 Shotts               66192/11 17/11/2010 George GOATEN 26/11/1981 Kilmarnock               66243/11 24/03/2011 David GORLACH 17/12/1966 Shotts               66263/11 19/01/2011 Patrick GORMAN 09/04/1978 Shotts               66274/11 25/12/2010 Scott GOVAN 13/08/1976 Tullibody               66283/11 10/03/2011 Neil GRAINGER 04/10/1974 Dundee               66480/11 20/01/2011 Ronald GRANT 14/03/1945 Shotts               66535/11 20/12/2010 John GREIG 26/06/1960 Shotts               66549/11 20/12/2010 Gordon GRIEVE 16/04/1951 Peterhead               66573/11 17/01/2011 Terry HADDOW 13/02/1948 Shotts               66834/11 17/01/2011 Ian HARPER 10/08/1966 Shotts               66836/11 29/03/2011 Manzoor HASSAN 25/07/1975 Edinburgh               66863/11 23/03/2011 Kevin HAUGHIAN 15/01/1984 Shotts               67172/11 28/01/2011 Benjamin HOLDING 15/02/1979 Shotts               67200/11 20/11/2010 Stuart HONEST 02/10/1969 Greenock               67249/11 24/03/2011 Daniel HOWIE 06/02/1983 Kilmarnock               67541/11 24/03/2011 Graham IRVINE 05/11/1974 Kilmarnock               67790/11 23/11/2010 Keith JORDAN 22/09/1965 Edinburgh               67822/11 12/04/2011 Joe KEELEY 22/09/1981 Tullibody               67846/11 17/11/2010 Colin KELLY 30/07/1978 Peterhead               67863/11 17/11/2010 James KENNEDY 15/01/1972 Shotts               68072/11 23/03/2011 Kevin KILLORAN 29/02/1968 Shotts               68078/11 23/03/2011 Jason KINNAIRD 15/05/1981 Shotts               68194/11 29/03/2011 Alexander LAUCHLAN 01/05/1976 Kilmarnock               68543/11 11/01/2011 Samuel LOCKE 16/09/1966 Kilmarnock               68551/11 19/01/2011 Steven LOGUE 06/02/1976 Tullibody               68846/11 21/12/2010 Malcolm MACDONALD 13/03/1969 Edinburgh               68873/11 23/11/2010 Gary MACKIE 14/08/1968 Kilmarnock               68877/11 24/03/2011 John MACKIE 10/04/1973 Tullibody               68883/11 28/01/2011 Stuart MAC NAB 08/10/1975 Tullibody               68894/11 23/03/2011 Greig MADDOCK 21/02/1986 Perth               69741/11 10/03/2011 Daniel MC ALPINE 10/11/1978 Shotts               69864/11 24/03/2011 John MC CONNELL 07/02/1970 Tullibody               70104/11 24/03/2011 James MC COLGAN 28/12/1987 Peterhead               70111/11 07/01/2011 Brian MC CREADIE 14/01/1977 Scotland               70140/11 17/01/2011 Darren Andrew MC COLE 02/05/1974 Lanarkshire               70155/11 10/03/2011 Kyle MC CUSKER 27/05/1987 Clackmannanshire               70168/11 12/04/2011 Mike MC CUSKER 01/07/1989 Tullibody               70220/11 23/03/2011 Mark MC GARTLAND 05/06/1984 Shotts               70235/11 17/01/2011 Gary MC GEOWN 14/09/1971 Shotts               70247/11 29/03/2011 Brian MC GLOIN 21/10/1975 Glasgow               70414/11 07/02/2011 Daniel MC GOWAN 09/01/1969 Shotts               70425/11 28/01/2011 Robert MC GREGOR 30/12/1970 Kilmarnock               70478/11 23/03/2011 Ronnie MCKAY 07/09/1962 Shotts               71023/11 30/03/2011 James MC KINNEY 18/11/1978 Kilmarnock               71049/11 01/01/2011 Terence MC MILLAN 01/12/1968 Addiewell               71069/11 28/01/2011 James MC NEILL 25/09/1985 Glasgow               71295/11 23/03/2011 Chris MC SORLEY 06/02/1984 Kilmarnock               71332/11 28/01/2011 Steven Douglas MILLAR 26/04/1964 Tullibody               71346/11 17/11/2010 Christopher MILLER 09/10/1984 Shotts               71375/11 05/01/2011 Robert MILNE 22/11/1967 Addiewell               71599/11 17/11/2010 Leslie MOOHAN 01/12/1982 Shotts               71911/11 29/03/2011 Robert MUIR 21/02/1963 Glasgow               71943/11 28/01/2011 Michael NISBET 03/04/1974 Edinburgh               72669/11 29/03/2011 Peter PATON 08/04/1953 Edinburgh               72685/11 24/03/2011 James PAUL 08/08/1974 Kilmarnock          72705/11 23/03/2011 David PAUL 14/03/1950 Shotts          72791/11 08/03/2011 John PIGGOTT 17/06/1936 Shotts          73004/11 17/03/2011 Gary POLLAND 11/02/1987 Addiewell          73014/11 31/03/2011 James HUGHES 13/03/1984 Tullibody          73028/11 01/04/2011 Kevin SWINDELLS 20/12/1970 Edinburgh          73034/11 31/03/2011 Colin GOURLAY 11/09/1961 Shotts          73041/11 24/03/2011 Paul POLLIN 04/04/1977 Shotts          73085/11 17/01/2011 Paul PRIOR 01/11/1973 Shotts          73386/11 24/03/2011 Brian REDFERN 02/01/1983 Shotts          73692/11 28/01/2011 Ritchie SEDGWICK 26/04/1985 Tullibody          73918/11 24/03/2011 Paul SIMMONDS 04/06/1974 Shotts          73962/11 24/03/2011 Robert SIMPSON 02/02/1949 Tullibody          73993/11 20/12/2010 Ryan SMITH 07/10/1983 Peterhead          74237/11 23/11/2010 Grant STEWART 25/09/1965 Peterhead          74276/11 17/11/2010 Donald STONE 24/09/1984 Lanarkshire          74284/11 23/11/2010 Neil STRACHAN 29/02/1968 Peterhead          74288/11 23/03/2011 John STRUTHERS 15/01/1985 Tullibody          75114/11 01/04/2011 Ian SUTHERLAND 19/08/1970 Tulibody          75333/11 28/01/2011 Steven TAYLOR 13/07/1976 Shotts          75391/11 24/03/2011 Barry THOMSON 07/10/1978 Shotts          75396/11 28/03/2011 David THOMSON 28/06/1987 Kilmarnock          75693/11 18/11/2010 Steven TRAIN 22/12/1955 Peterhead          75742/11 24/03/2011 Brian VENUTI 01/10/1976 Addiewell          76318/11 29/03/2011 Andrew WATT 22/03/1962 Edinburgh          76336/11 28/01/2011 Brian WEBBER 10/08/1966 Kilmarnock          76361/11 07/02/2011 Matthew WELSH 05/08/1975 Shotts          76388/11 28/01/2011 Patrick WHITE 08/11/1980 Shotts          76552/11 23/03/2011 James WILSON 02/01/1955 Kilmarnock          76561/11 05/01/2011 John WILSON 13/04/1961 Tullibody          76569/11 17/01/2011 Taylor WILSON 02/08/1981 Kilmarnock          76576/11 17/11/2010 Simon WISEMAN 15/08/1972 Shotts          76582/11 20/01/2011 Alex WOODSIDE 21/03/1977 Tullibody