The Howard government also sought to exclude prisoners from voting in the forthcoming election, knowing that indigenous people are overrepresented (for a range of reasons) in the prison population. This part of the legislation which deprived prisoners of the right to vote was challenged in the High Court by an individual indigenous prisoner. Her challenge was successful. The Court however upheld previous provisions which prevented prisoners sentenced to 3 or more years in prison from voting. Prisoners win right to vote - National - theage.com.au The Court has yet to release its reasons for the decision.