To believe that people should have to pass a test to vote?

[ZanyWriter]

If you can’t understand basic political issues or policies, why should your vote count as much as someone who does? AIBU to think voting shouldn’t be a universal right?

We wouldn't let someone with no idea how to drive behind a wheel, or someone with no training yank out a tooth. Why do we allow people with no understanding of the most basic policies wield a vote? It could be an incredibly simple multi choice test at the polling station, done in the booth on an iPad followed by the vote or not. That way noone would know if you'd passed or failed. I'm talking literally, which party wants to introduce X policy ...all wording lifted from manifestos so no twisting of policies. It can be available in multiple formats, translations etc to make it as inclusive as possible..and I'm afraid I do think someone with such LD as cannot comprehend the most basic parts of the system should probably not be able to vote. And please don't chuck around Nazis references. It's lazy and utterly lacking in nuance. Hopefully their families and close friends would use their votes appropriately. Either that or some kind of proxy system but that would be hard to police.

There are lots of so called intelligent people who make idiotic choices at the ballot box.

I sort of agree with you OP but it's just not practical given the fundamental premise of democracy.

This. Brexit would have never happened if they simply disregarded the vote from anyone who couldn't select the correct definition of a third country in a multiple choice question.

I don't think op was referring to those who simply vote a different way to her.

But rather those that literally have not got a clue. Those that do not know even the first thing about what each party stands for.

Agree!

People take tests to drive, then pass and still behave like arseholes.

Presumably passing the politics test doesn't include the ability to be deliberately disgenuous?

As does my cousin. And he chooses to. As is his RIGHT.

What a daft thread. I am willing to bet you're left wing too @ZanyWriter and reckon anyone who is right wing, or even right of centre, is 'wrong.'

About everything. 🙄

Seriously, I doubt that a right wing/right of centre person would create such a stupid nonsensical thread.

Also, I bet you don't come back to this goady thread!

Maybe it would be easier for the OP if everyone wrote her a letter telling her who they’re voting for. She can advise the people who are voting the same as her that their votes are allowed and tell everyone else to bog off 🙄 🙄

😂

I bet I can guess your political persuasion from your question, OP 😁

No, we all have to live in this country so we should all be able to vote for the government, if the politicians aren’t clear about what they’ll do in power then they will be held to account at the next vote.

100%

No representation without taxation!

Not coming back to argue your case @ZanyWriter ?

Ridiculous. Even stupid people have the right to live in a democracy. Also how would you test a persons intelligence?

Ooh I quite like that! Bit like the Swiss

Are you sure you’d pass OP?

Democracy isn’t about the intelligent, the educated, the informed. It’s about the numbers. A party needs to attract and pull a majority of the numbers. That’s it.

There was no legal compunction to honour the vote. There should have been - because it would have meant the campaign would have been subject to much stricter regulation. At least requiring a supermajority before anything would happen.

Anyone voting for a right-wing party is clearly too STUPID to be allowed to vote.

Only educated people with critical thinking skills should have the vote.

Good question @SerendipityJane 🤔

How do you figure out who does and who doesn't? Who is responsible for 'testing' people. How much is it going to cost? The country's got no money. Sorry, awful idea.

YABVU, everyone has the right to a vote.

I think jurors should have to pass a test though.

"Only adult male Athenian citizens who had completed their military training as ephebes had the right to vote in Athens. The percentage of the population that actually participated in the government was 10% to 20% of the total number of inhabitants, but this varied from the fifth to the fourth century BC."

It astonishes me how few people have ever bothered to check what democracy really means.

Most of the 10-20 per cent of people who could vote were land-owners and considered also to be educated.

Why would any of you want a free for all? Imagine if driving were democratic, in the sense everyone mistakenly believes in - everyone could choose what speed limits they chose to drive at, or how safe their car was and not have qualified mechanics involved, and it would be fine to have your 4, 5, 7 and 12 year olds driving without a test...

Massively open to corruption and the “stupid” people are probably the ones who want/need the way our country is run to change the most so need to be represented.

The nature of democracy is sometimes your side loses. I think Brexit was stupid but when people were trying to overturn it I said you either respect democracy or not. Same with Trump’s second term. He won. He’s what people wanted. I don’t know why but I’m not going to assume 77 million people are stupid or don’t understand the issues or don’t deserve to vote. They just voted differently to how I would have voted.