A Holyrood committee will consider whether offenders in Scotland's jails should be allowed to vote.

Members of the Scottish Parliament's Equalities and Human Rights Committee will discuss the issue and make recommendations to ministers.

It comes after Green MSP Patrick Harvie called for alternatives to the current blanket ban to be considered.

The committee will examine about the situation in two countries where prisoners are allowed to vote; Ireland and Canada.

Ireland passed legislation in 2006, while Canada has allowed prisoners to vote since 2002.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, convener Christina McKelvie said: "The historic reasons preventing prisoners from voting need to be re-examined.

"Do we still want modern day prisoners to face so-called civic death?

"We need to consider how removing the right to vote sits with rehabilitating offenders, and also what constitutes a proportionate punishment for people who have broken the law.

"The Equalities and Human Rights Committee will consider the arguments before submitting our thoughts to the Scottish Government."