Britain's Supreme Court rejects murderers' bid to gain right to vote

LONDON – Britain's top court has struck down an attempt by two convicted murderers to win the right to vote, upholding a ban on inmates casting ballots that has been condemned by European judges.

The European Court of Human Rights ruled in 2005 that Britain's blanket ban on prisoners voting is incompatible with the EU's human rights charter, but Britain has resisted relaxing its laws.

Peter Chester and George McGeoch, who are both serving life sentences for murder, argued that European law gives them the right to cast ballots. But the U.K. Supreme Court on Wednesday unanimously dismissed the two men's claims.

Prime Minister David Cameron said the verdict was "a victory for common sense."

But Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, accused the government of flouting human rights law.