What are the pros and cons of literacy tests before voting?

Question

^^^^^^read up there

Answer 1

People can sign a legal document with the letter X as long as there are witnesses. That being said, people will always be allowed to vote as long as they register. There will never be any changes to that.

Answer 2

Literacy is a skill and is not, in and of itself, an indication of intelligence. Look at the uniformed, delusional stuff that people write here, for instance. Look at dyslexics, who, despite the trouble they have with reading, usually score above the average on IQ tests. Some studies have shown that as much as 20% of the population has some degree of dyslexia, by the way. Or how about people who are visually impaired or who are not as literate in English as they are in another language or who, through misfortune, missed the boat on getting an education but are plenty smart?

How good a reader do you have to be to be allowed to vote? Should you be able to handle college texts and scientific papers or just the average newspaper (which is written to a 5th grade level)? Should we let 5th graders vote, then?

I just don't think a literacy test would do what you think it would.

Beyond that, I really don't think that anyone should be given the power to decide who among the rest of us is "fit" to vote. Kinda defeats the purpose of democracy, doesn't it?

Answer 3

Pro: You can insure that the voters are educated. It also gives you more assurance that they understand the issues they are voting on, since they will have access to newspapers and whatnot.

Con: These are almost always used to discriminate against specific populations. The tests are usually designed to repress the voting power of racial minorities and immigrants. It is unlikely that any state would be able to get these tests past the federal court system, due to their longstanding association with racism.

Answer 4

Pro: You can be somewhat assured that the people voting know and understand what each candidate stands for.

Con: You'll leave out a fairly specific segment of the population who are still affected by the decisions of the elected officials, but have no say in the election.

Answer 5

Have you heard of the Popeye's strategy in Louisiana. A test might help avoid some of that.

Pro: Basically it proves that the voter is knowingly voting for their choice and not programmed choice by candidates using dirty tactics.

Con: Discriminating against people with lower intelligence.

Answer 6

Do it all by absentee ballot more time to understand & Vote Arizona offers ballots in Spanish IF the person can't read obviously he can't vote

Answer 7

So you will be aware of voting for Pat Bewcannon

Answer 8

chickens!!!