Who should be allowed to vote?

[Copesneeddilate]

Land-owners, otherwise have a job, work, pay your taxes and your bills so you have a stake in the country your voting in, and your disillusioned to any utopia social fantasy you might have.

 

[Betonhaus]

Proof of residence, proof of assets over $10,000 (disregarding any loans against said assets), proof of tax history in good standing? The latter one may actually omit many rich people.

 

[WitchfyndeGeneral]

Anyone who can realize that both Left-Wing and Right-wing are both collective tyrants and that we need a new political system.

 

[Neighborhood Curmudgeon]

Speaking as a former election worker, I sincerely believe that people should at least have a basic knowledge of civics. People love having opinions, but they often don't know what they're talking about. In addition to civics, it would also be nice if people had a cursory knowledge of history, current events, and a reasonable understanding of the issues they're ranting about beyond just agreeing with whatever bandwagon they've jumped on. However, and sadly, I realize that's just a pipe dream.

All I want is an educated and informed electorate. But I also accept that's pure .

 

[Chuck McGill]

if you don't speak the local language then they only things you know about politics are what have been translated for you. You're not hearing what's on the street, you're rarely watching unbiased news. The only things you know are from people who have made an effort to translate it to you, and they are unlikely to tell you the whole story.

Every single time I see the little 'check this if an interpreter assisted you' box on the ballot, I can feel my heartbeat behind my eyes. Fucking imagine being the person that looked at this and sent it out. After all, the barely literate ESL hordes deserve a voice too, bigot! The only thing more pathetic would be the interpreter giving their time on Election Day to assist them. A sane society would throw them in jail for election interference and treason, but we just have to tolerate it because the alternative is to tell a brown person no.

It's a damn shame we fucked up poll literacy tests by making them obviously slanted against blacks. Have the test be a few theoretical conditional questions for everyone(eg. How would you feel if you didn't eat breakfast this morning?), and I guarantee you the <80 IQs will have all gone home by lunch.

 

[SIMIΔN]

I think every non-incarcerated citizen above 25 should get a vote.

I would give people an extra vote for each of the following criteria they meet.

• At least two children with either/both 90% attendance at school, or a minimum passing grade in the vast majority of key subjects during their seventh grade tests.
• Either a net positive tax payer, or married for at least two years to one.
• Served honourably in the military, or any other high risk national service.
• Grandparents were all born citizens in this country.

This should improve the alignment of the electorate with the nation's best interest, whilst incentivising socially beneficial behaviour.
In the case of America, all conditions should be reachable by a poor Black ex-felon if he chooses to better himself.

I would ban postal votes, as they are easily exploitable.
I wouldn't put a maximum age to vote, but without postal voting, the elderly vote would be either be independent, determined or socially involved.

As for intelligence testing, following basic voting instructions should be enough. Australia's senate voting sheet is a midwit trap. Putting 1 in the box of their preferred party is valid. Labeling 15 candidates you support in the order you support them is valid. But if you just label 14 of them, it is thrown in the bin. Crazy in my opinion.

 

[Stan]

if you don't speak the local language then they only things you know about politics are what have been translated for you. You're not hearing what's on the street, you're rarely watching unbiased news. The only things you know are from people who have made an effort to translate it to you, and they are unlikely to tell you the whole story.

You made the effort to learn English and still consume insanely biased news, making no effort to find sources that will tell you the whole story. You just read what you want to believe on /pol/ or wherever; so why does knowing English even make a difference?

Anyway the point of democracy is to allow the people to rule themselves; every proposal you make is to restrict the vote to fewer and fewer people (landowners, etc.)

just be honest with yourselves and endorse a federation or one-party system where only a ruling political vanguard class can vote at all; like Russia or China’s got.

 

[Slur Generator]

I think even a Dictator selected by random chance would have a greater chance of producing a moral leader. The system is set up in such a way as to weed out anyone that isn't either a filthy rich sociopath or that sucks the dicks of rich sociapths. The chance of anyone good climbing the ranks is 0%

 

[Whatevermancer]

Only the party members should be allowed to vote.

 

[Zbk3VmLfujjzjxBd43tL]

The problem isn't so much WHO gets to vote, but what they are voting on. Mussolini devised an interesting solution when he reformed the legislature so representatives of various industries got to vote instead of those elected by the people. At worst, this is just the same as today but at best, this represents the actual economy. I'd also add other institutions besides the one Mussolini did, such as religious and civic organizations, and permit the leader of the country to nominate certain exemplary citizens. Even if you're just fusing the role of politician and lobbyist, that is still a good thing since it's cutting down on the number of useless eaters.

It's very debateable IMO if people need to actually be represented on a national scale. But local elections should be open to everyone who actually lives there, is not a criminal/slow in the head/etc., and is over the age of 25 (with exceptions of those in certain lines of work) of sound mind and moral character.

 

[PipTheAlchemist]

Australia's senate voting sheet is a midwit trap.

Aren't Australians forced to vote in elections?

 

[SIMIΔN]

I think even a Dictator selected by random chance would have a greater chance of producing a moral leader. The system is set up in such a way as to weed out anyone that isn't either a filthy rich sociopath or that sucks the dicks of rich sociapths. The chance of anyone good climbing the ranks is 0%

Personally I think local councils should be filled by opt-out sortition. (Random selection, similar to jury duty.)
I'd offer a blanket tax reduction to incentivise high-earners not to opt out.
It's too hard to research the candidate at local level.

Aren't Australians forced to vote in elections?

Yes, but what I was saying was that some ways of filling out your ballot are hard to do correctly.

 

[Absurdist Laughter]

I used to say Tax Payers and Land Owners, however, if we were to implement that now that would mean all of the landlords, board of directors/companies, and other slimy folks would become more saturated and dilute the vote of home owners. Not to mention, Tax payers could be interpreted as sales taxes as well.

Personally, just take a page from eugenics and require some sort of test to get your "vote" card. May as well go full authoritarian because we might be headed in that direction anyway.

 

[SwanSwanson]

If this shitty liberal democracy is all we have here would be some good requirements to vote which aren't as elitist as "must be a landowner", landowners aren't the only ones here who have a stake in society.

* Must have lived here from when they were 7 at least

* Must have lived in the country for at least consecutive 14 years

* Must be at least 17 years old

* Must believe in the one God.

* Must have an IQ above 75

* Must be a man(No women can vote)

* Must not have been imprisoned for any serious crimes.

* Cannot be older than 55

* Cannot be making more than the top 2% in income

* Must have served 3 years in being a firefighter, EMT, or military(and has seen combat). If they are not physically able, they must have served as some sort of janitorial, community service, or another humble position.

These are the standards for voting and running for office. I have filtered out any types which would have no troubles or grievances, types that would have no stake in the nation's success, women and old people. Probably 25 percent of people would meet these requirements.

 

[Holy Lord Phoenix LXII]

If this shitty liberal democracy is all we have here would be some good requirements to vote which aren't as elitist as "must be a landowner", landowners aren't the only ones here who have a stake in society.

* Must have lived here from when they were 7 at least

* Must have lived in the country for at least consecutive 14 years

* Must be at least 17 years old

* Must believe in the one God.

* Must have an IQ above 75

* Must be a man(No women can vote)

* Must not have been imprisoned for any serious crimes.

* Cannot be older than 55

* Cannot be making more than the top 2% in income

* Must have served 3 years in being a firefighter, EMT, or military(and has seen combat). If they are not physically able, they must have served as some sort of janitorial, community service, or another humble position.

These are the standards for voting and running for office. I have filtered out any types which would have no troubles or grievances, types that would have no stake in the nation's success, women and old people. Probably 25 percent of people would meet these requirements.

Love and devotion, brother.

In seriousness, the general public, including myself, is just not equipped to make informed decisions about all of the shit they cram onto the ballot now. I do not have the time to familiarize myself with the minutia of every elected state functionary. I think this is why so many people vote straight-party. Personally, If I know nothing about an office that is up for election I just vote for whatever name I think is least likely to be some massive faggot. This automatically disqualifies Dakentayquarius and all women. If the only options for an office are a field hand or a washing machine then it isn't worth my time to fill in the bubble.

 

[The-Patriarchy]

Only George Soros should have the right to vote, no one else.

At least that's what the voices on my TV say is true, therefore it must be.

 

[Betonhaus]

How about requiring voters to be a taxpayer in good standing who has a net positive equity?

This would demonstrate that you are familiar enough with the government system to properly file your taxes, and have enough folds in your brain to be able to budget. Governments would recognize the need for their constituents to have education on taxes and finances, possibly automating tax filing like what the UK has. There would be a pressure to limit your debt load, or at least balance it with assets with a value exceeding that debt load. Plus the ultra-rich who use every tax trick in the book would lose their voting ability, which could exclude them from participating in politics.

 

[Zbk3VmLfujjzjxBd43tL]

Personally, just take a page from eugenics and require some sort of test to get your "vote" card. May as well go full authoritarian because we might be headed in that direction anyway.

There's a lot to be said about the famous Imperial Chinese examinations required to become a bureaucrat, but you have to wonder if an examination system like that would actually be a better way to create an electorate rather than politicians. Supposedly the pass rate in Imperial China was about 2-5%, so theoretically we'd be taking the most qualified 2-5% of citizens and having them vote for politicians.

And just so it isn't phD holders and shit, the test could include a lot of practical subjects like finance and even blue collar tasks (just like the Chinese exams had archery and poetry).

 

[murph]

Only dogs should be allowed to vote. They will establish a world of always eat meat, always throw ball, and if you have a political disagreement, always shit in your opponent's yard.

Pitbulls will have to be exterminated for this utopia to work.

 

[Hellbound Hellhound]

I disagree with any attempt to limit the franchise. Everyone has a stake in how their society is governed, and everyone should thus have the right to influence it.

The commonly raised problem of low information voters and bad governance isn't that there is a class of people who shouldn't be allowed to vote, but that society has clearly failed these people with respect to education; especially as it revolves around civics. Improve education, especially from a young age, and these problems would markedly improve.

I think every non-incarcerated citizen above 25 should get a vote.

People often suggest that 18-year-olds aren't mature enough to vote, but does the evidence actually support this? Research has shown that older voters are more susceptible to misinformation, and when you look at how old people do tend to vote, the received wisdom that being older means being wiser suddenly looks to be on very shaky ground.

Also, preventing the incarcerated from voting potentially creates a perverse incentive to criminalize certain opinions, wouldn't you say?