Should clever people have more than one vote?

Question

Because a person asks a question, it doesn't mean they are fishing for a particular answer! As it happens, I don't think clever people should have more than one vote. (The philosopher John Stuart Mill thought it might be a good idea.) As one of the answerers points out, intellectual cleverness is not everything. As someone who is politically active in a country where democracy (kind of) works, I find it is very enlightening to canvass for votes among "ordinary" people around election time. They may not have brilliant ideas, but their hearts are often in a better place then politicians and they often have a better sense of realism. They hinder intellectuals getting too much power, which is probably a good thing in the end because intellectuals think with their heads more than their hearts.

Answer 1

Just because some one is intelligent does not mean they make wise decisions. Someone can be book smart but terrible at reading people. Or someone book smart could be very gullable.

Are these the people you want to get extra votes?

Answer 2

No, but stop stupid people from voting and it will accomplish the same goal. Best way to do that is remove the option of the straight-party vote, so that you actually have to think about each office you're voting for vs. just saying I'm voting for every Democrat.

Answer 3

One person one vote. Thus, even when someone is clever, he is not entitled to more than one vote because it will no longer fair under the law.

Answer 4

along the same line I feel there should be an IQ test given before being able to vote and anyone unable to reach at least average IQ should be excluded...

Answer 5

Define clever people.

Answer 6

Sure. I think we should go back and only let landowners vote as well.