Should everyone vote?

[WilyWestbrook0]

A common idea expressed by many is that all 18+ people in the USA need to vote since we have that right, but I am not sure I agree with this sentiment. I try to keep up with politics, but I am no longer sure I should vote because I now think I lack the expertise that a lot of other more qualified people have. I voted in 2004 but that probably was not a good decision.

[haybierman]

One of two things should happen:

1. Mandatory voting.
2. Voting licensing - Voters-to-be would have to pass some sort of Civics test to show they knew what they were doing.

I feel equally uncomfortable with someone voting for Obama because he is "fresh and new" while he runs under a completely empty banner of "hope and change" as I am with someone voting for Bush because he seems to be the most Jesus-y.

BTW, if Jesusy is not yet a recognized word, I hereby coin it.

[WilyWestbrook0]

I like option #2, but when I brought that up to a couple of people, they did not like the idea at all. I'm like you though and think people should at least prove their familiarity with some basic political knowledge. I guess the big question is what those questions would consist of in order to be considered "fair."

[ensbergcollector]

People have a gut reaction to any limit on voting and cite the restrictions put on minorities and women as the reason. I completely understand where that feeling comes from but I absolutely agree with the 2nd option.
There have been more video polls than I care to quote asking random people on the street political questions and the average voting public is stupid. (Sorry, just my opinion). They have done exit polls of presidential elections asking people questions like who is the repubilcan/democratic vice presidential candidate and a scary percentage of people couldn't answer.

[OnePimpTiger]

I've thought about it quite a bit too and here's the conclusion I always come back around to: In my opinion, not everyone is informed enough or even intelligent enough to vote (probably more than half the general public actually)....but the beauty/tragedy of Democracy is that they still can.

At times I'm inclined to agree with you haybierman about the civics test idea....or perhaps just a general "understand the concept" test...but as soon as something like that happens, then it's not Democracy any more. The idea of Utopia where everyone is provided for and no one goes without is a great ideal, but human nature makes it impossible. As a result, Democracy, however flawed it is, is the best of what's out there.

[OnePimpTiger]

and the average voting public is stupid. (Sorry, just my opinion)

I don't think that is opinion...I'm leaning toward fact!

[garnett_21]

Sorry guys, but this may seem harsh.....if you want to have freedom of speech, equal rights, a say as to what happens in our country, etc, etc, etc, then vote, and if you don't vote, then don't complain when something is done in a way that you do not like by our government, because you have not participated in electing him/her to office. I'm not directing this towards anyone whatsoever, just simply saying what I think

And get this - this is fact....the most people to ever vote in a presidential election was roughly 60 million in 2004, yet in last weeks American Idol semi-finals, 56 million people voted....that is just really, really wrong in my opinion....yes, alot of those votes were probably minors, but still....

[garnett_21]

I agree with this, but people can/should take the time to become informed, rather than being ostriches and sticking their heads in the sand.....I don't mean going to the candidates websites and reading everything there is to know about them....I mean just sitting down and watching the nightly news each day....you can learn a heck of a lot just by watching the news....I watch the local news every night, and the national news 4-5 times a week

and the average voting public is stupid. (Sorry, just my opinion)

[OnePimpTiger]

And get this - this is fact....the most people to ever vote in a presidential election was roughly 60 million in 2004, yet in last weeks American Idol semi-finals, 56 million people voted....that is just really, really wrong in my opinion....yes, alot of those votes were probably minors, but still....

That's very true and very, very sad...they're more informed and qualified to vote for American Idol/Dancing With the Stars/etc than for the leaders of our country. That's one of the things that makes me think a voting eligibility test might not be such a bad idea.

[andrewcstein]

That's very true and very, very sad...they're more informed and qualified to vote for American Idol/Dancing With the Stars/etc than for the leaders of our country. That's one of the things that makes me think a voting eligibility test might not be such a bad idea.

Let's not forget the laziness factor. If people could vote for the President from their couches, a lot more votes would be cast.