To think you should have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the facts before being allowed to vote

[Bearbehind]

Ok, I appreciate this is purely hypothetical is it could never be enforced but, it does astound me when a proportion of the electorate, albeit hopefully small, are so clueless they come out with comments like I've seen this morning which included:-

-Looking forward to doing some online shopping for items from the USA as they'd be cheaper now the pound has dropped

-Being surprised that the markets have fallen following the vote to leave and not realising their vote would have that effect

-Thinking this decision might pave the way for Norway to hold a referendum to leave the EU too

It's bad enough we all have to filter through the outright lies, like the money saved on the EU which would go straight to the NHS, and the scarcity of facts but people making decisions when their basic understanding is so poor is downright scary.

Fred can do want he likes- I'm objecting to Joe doing it for no other reason that Fred said so.

I give up.

We all have to live with the decision made today. I'm quite philosophical about that. It would just be an easier pill to swallow if all those who voted for it actually had the courage of their convictions.

Well let's say Fred is a builder

He is down the pub with his mates, he is undecided if even will bother voting.

His mates say we're all voting out because those pesky EU builders are taking our jobs (not my view btw)

Fred thinks actually my contract work has slowed up so maybe my mates have a good perspective on this

And he votes leave

His vote his still his vote, he didn't decide not to vote, he felt on the basis of that conversation he should vote.

Why is that a wrong vote? It is his vote and his choice

Now I may not and you may not agree to that but by your explanation of "are you able to vote do you have a point of view" he can say yes

What you have questioned is our entire voting system and referendums are people voting, real individuals living here and whilst I don't agree with Fred's hypothetical vote I wouldn't question that my decision making process is better than his

Or Jo who is listening in

He still made a decision to go and vote
Therefore he did care enough to vote

Maybe the ballot paper should have a few qualifying questions like 'do you realise that your vote counts', 'do you know that the result of this vote is final?'.

It is a disgrace if people have genuinely voted thinking that their vote doesn't count, that this is primarily about putting two fingers up to the Tory government, or that we can change our mind if it doesn't work out. Leaving might prove to be the right decision but it wasn't one to take lightly or on the basis of tomatoes.

Oh dear lord

This is a referendum people voted as they saw fit

Let's not say who cannot vote

In a general election, I often think people should vote for policies not parties. eg. Instead of 'UKIP' , 'Labour' 'Tory', it should say 'get rid of all benefits', 'increase tax and increase benefits' and 'reduce tax a bit and reduce benefits a bit' on the ballot paper. Because many who voted for UKIP did not know that one of their main manifesto things was to get rid of all benefits. (Obviously some may have known but still voted for them thinking they would never get in anyway so it wouldn't matter)

But that wouldn't have worked in the referendum because no-one really knew what would happen (and we won't ever know really as we can't see both sides only the one that we've chosen).

If people really don't know what is going on (eg. they think the European Convention of Human Rights is the same as the EU) then it must be the fault of the education system. Not everyone is going to have the time or inclination to educate themselves as an adult but people should be taught the basics in school

Fred thinks actually my contract work has slowed up so maybe my mates have a good perspective on this

kitten you've hit the nail on the head there Fred thinks

Fred doesn't just whine the next day that he had no fucking clue what he was doing but he voted a certain way anyhow.

He says he felt pesky EU builders were potentially detrimental to him and I'd respect that.

If you don't see the difference I can't make it any clearer.

If they tell you are not

Everyone goes into a voting booth with a "think"

Or not

The think is always there

I am obviously very stupid that I can't understand that anybody goes into a voting booth with an opinion even if it differs from mine

Regardless of what you think, anyone who makes it to the booth has an opinion on why. It might be a I don't know it was a feeing but to make the effort to the booth there was somewhere a decision mad

Everyone goes into a voting booth with a "think"

If only that were true.

Today has sadly shown that isn't the case.

I'm horrified as, even yesterday I wouldn't have believed it, but a quick search of social media and the papers dispels that myth.

Of course they do

They actually think about voting
They go and make their vote

Thank god people like you don't rule

No, what its shown is that over 50% of the people voting saw the information and felt differently to you.

They actually think about voting. They go and make their vote

If the evidence indicated that was the case with 100% of the electorate I would have no issue but with a 2% swing making the world of difference it's not unreasonable to focus on those who had no fucking clue what they were doing.

Pleas explain and justify the multitude of people saying 'shit, I didn't realise that would happen'

This isn't an urban myth. It's actually happening.

That is the whole point of a referendum, people vote as they feel fit.

You don't get to dictate why people vote! You don't get to decide who votes

Your reasoning behind voting was very uninformed IMO. But you voted

Nothing you have said gives me the view that you had any clue that you knew why you were voting

But it's your right to vote

My son has Down Syndrome. Although a long way off being old enough to vote, I am proud that we live in a society that treats his franchise in exactly the same way as everybody else's. I hope he will be supported one day to exercise his democratic right.

At the risk of further prolonging this- why were my reasons uninformed and what were yours?

If there was a magic answer we'd all have chosen it.

I'm not saying anyone's reason top trumps anyone else's - I'm saying at least have a reason for doing what you did and base it on a modicum of fact.

No your saying your reasoning is better than others so much so you would require a test

Oh, please don't cop out now kitten

Why were my voting choices 'uninformed'?

Why didn't I 'have a clue why I was voting'?

I don't understand why you are attacking the people who voted out OP. Those who voted to leave actually went to the polling station because they felt strongly enough to do so. If you want to blame anyone, blame the 28% who couldn't be arsed to make the effort.

I'm not attacking those who voted out, what will be will be.

I'm pissed off with those who put a cross in a box but they have no reason why they did so and area actually stupid enough to then say things like 'off to spend my money online in the US as, now the pound has dropped it'll be cheaper' or 'maybe Noway will follow us and vote out of the EU too' or, more insultingly 'I had no idea what I was doing and wouldn't do the same again'