Should uneducated people vote?

Answer 1

Yes, but rich people shouldn't.

Answer 2

This was already decided in the Supreme Court. The issue in several of the Southern states was a literacy test - which was found to be unconstitutional (as were poll taxes, BTW).

The issue really shouldn't be about educated/uneducated anyway. There are many "educated" people who will simply vote for a party no matter what. It doesn't matter about the issue or the individual character. (My parents voted for Democrat - or Republican - so I will also.) That is far more problematic than educated.

Many "uneducated" people have more common sense than many educated ones.

Answer 3

If people are uninformed of course they shouldn't vote.

My edit: Uninformed is synonymous with uneducated.

You have received numerous answers to your question, but, whether a person "should" vote and whether a person "should" have the "right" to vote was not what you asked - was it? If a person is uniformed/uneducated about a subject, then no, they should not vote. They should have the right to vote, but they shouldn't vote unless they are informed.

In this country, we all have the freedom and the right to vote. I do not believe the right to vote should be taken away. I do not want any of my freedoms taken away. My forefathers fought for the right to grant me the freedoms that I now have and I thoroughly enjoy them.

Normally when we vote, we are not only voting for public representatives we are voting for amendments. These amendments, depending upon our views/beliefs, social status, income, etc., can be extremely important. Think about the big contraversy going on right now with stem cell research. Some say it will provide cures for diseases and injuries that affect many. Others say it can cause infertility, death. What about the so called "sin" taxes - tax smokers...? Both of these issues will show up when I vote next Tuesday. There could be an amendment on a ballot somewhere that will end up causing an uneducated individual to pay higher taxes or to vote yes on an amendment that they really don't believe in (morally, religiously, etc.). However, they are "uninformed" and the verbiage on the ballot is difficult for them to understand, so they just punch in a yes or no. How sad.

All in all, I thought your question to be quite thought provoking.

Answer 4

Regardless of education, the government makes decisions that applies to all. For instance, regardless of education, criminals are held accountable for any actions they commit that break the laws concocted by the government. So it makes sense that all Americans, because they must comply with the U.S. government, should also have a say in the decisions that said government makes. I think a lot of people who are answering this question are assuming that it is referring to uninformed voters, this is not the same as uneducated(though there is a correlation, i know plenty of educated folks that are uninformed, and vice versa).

Answer 5

I think the more pertinent question is, "How is it possible that 18-year olds here in the U.S. are so completely uneducated?".

I hate the thought of an uneducated vote...But even more, I hate the thought of citizens not voting.

I would have to say yes...everyone should vote.

Answer 6

Rather we like it or not, they do and have been since the ability to do so was created. The uneducated and misinformed are the reasons for what is wrong with this new America we live in.

Answer 7

Who gets to decide what educated is? Should only those with doctorates vote? How about someone with little formal education yet who researched the issues at hand and knows a great deal about what they are voting for? Should every one have to take a test to make sure they know something about the candidate of issue before voting? Who gets to decide?

Answer 8

Why not? An uneducated person is running the country.

Answer 9

Sure. It would become a question otherwise of who decides who is educated and who is uneducated. The other thing is that no one is educated in all areas of knowledge so the term educated is very relative.

Answer 10

Socrates believed that the effects of the votes ignorant would tend to cancel themselves out. And arguably if they do vote randomly, then that is entirely the case.

Frederick Douglass argued that unless you extend the right to vote to EVERYONE, then the government has no need (and probably no inclination) to look after their interests.

I recommend reading the works of either of these fellows for a broader perspective on the issue.

PS: I must admit that I find it a bit amusing how vehemently others argue for "everyone's" right to vote... I wonder if they realize that even America doesn't allow around a quarter of its citizens to vote!

Answer 11

That's why we have an electoral college. Our founding fathers knew the people were not the smartest. The electoral college is not bound to vote the way the popular vote went.