Should people who don't pay any taxes be permitted to vote?

Question

I think that only people who pay taxes should be entitled to vote.

There are some legitimate points made. First, I agree that anyone in the military should be able to vote - it's their butts the pols are putting on the line. I don't agree that the sales tax should give you a right to vote in federal elections. There is no federal sales tax (except on gas) and you get to deduct the state sales tax from your federal income tax if you itemize. The gas tax is used to pay for the roads you drive on; I don't think you've got a big enough stake in the system just because you pay the gas tax.

I understand that there are circumstances that result in working and disabled people being free from tax liability. The gist of my argument is that if it's not your money they're spending, then you shouldn't have a vote. People who pay nothing should not have a say in how the money is spent.

I like the welfare point. At a minimum, anyone taking money from the govt. in the form of welfare or unemployment shouldn't be voting. I would also say that anyone who doesn't file a tax return (whether they pay or not) shouldn't be permitted to vote.

Answer 1

I agree but also believe there should be no Americans that do not pay taxes (all should contribute even if it is a very small amount).

Answer 2

That's a little bit ridiculous, as it stands. If someone is evading taxes and is caught for it (i.e., they owe taxes and don't pay them), then fine, take away certain of their rights, if you want. You can accomplish that by putting them in prison -- currently, prisoners don't have the right to vote.

But if someone is of voting age and simply doesn't owe any taxes for one reason or another (they are ill, they are in college or graduate school, they serve in the military, they are elderly, they are unemployed but actively seeking work, etc.), then they should have just as much of a right to vote as the next person. Plus, there are other forms of tax besides income tax, such as sales tax (in most states), so even they can't avoid paying some money to the (local) government.

Your argument sounds a lot like one of the arguments people made back when women couldn't vote -- on the whole, they weren't contributing to the government via income tax because they weren't earning their own money, so they shouldn't have a say in what goes on in the country.

Answer 3

If you earn less than $5000 you are not required to file federal income tax, however that doesn't mean you have not payed taxes in other ways including sales taxes, gasoline taxes, and social security. Just because you have little to know income tax liability doesn't mean you haven't contributed to the nation.

In a country where voter turn out hovers around 50%, I think we need to find ways to increase voter turn out not decrease the number of people who vote.

Answer 4

Everyone that BUYS anything in the U.S. pays taxes.
It's called a hidden tax.
Example:
You buy food or merchandise at a local store.
Some states have no sales tax, but every state has a fuel tax added into every gallon of fuel sold.

The merchandise being sold has to add in the delivery charge they are paying for the products they sell. Delivery charges include amounts for fuel.

There are other hidden taxes on everything we buy.

Answer 5

I don't agree.

For two reasons

1)Everyone pays sales tax if noting else which really adds up (at least 6% of everything you spent last year was tax)

and

2)There are two main groups of people who don't pay income taxes, stay at home spouses and working people below the poverty line. I think both of them deserve to vote.

Answer 6

If people don't pay taxes, but they don't take welfare from the government either, then I think they should still be allowed to vote. But if they take more money in government welfare than they pay in taxes, then I agree that they shouldn't be allowed to vote.

Answer 7

Let me explain income tax! It was created as the federal reserve was given power. This privately owned corporation charges interest on all money it loans so needed a debt collector and formed another foreign owned corporation the IRS. They have been draining this nations wealth every since! Not one penny of our income tax money is used by our government in any way! It all goes into the world bank and IMF!
Know that you know this how can you Link it to our right to vote?

Answer 8

My husband has been in the military for 12 years. We pay no taxes because our tax liability is zero after credits. We're a single income family - but hey - let my husband risk his life on a daily basis but give him not voting rights..... GREAT idea

Answer 9

Yes- I feel all citizens should be entitled to vote in a democratic society. Remember the poll tax assessed prior to being able to vote? It was declared unconstitutional.

Answer 10

Everybody of voting age pays taxes in one way or another even if it is just sales tax, which is not insignificant. That is not what the founders fathers intended, they were even more elitest and thought only white men who owned property should have the vote, the coutry has progressed to more democratic notions of regarding who should be allowed to vote, unlike you who want to go backwards, this would make you a reactionary -- in other words you are farther to the right than a conservative.

Answer 11

Why what about the elderly people they don't pay taxes, their retired. Why don't you want people that are citizens to vote. Everyone that is a citizen of the United states has a right to vote. People on welfare can vote, if you register you have that right, you can register if you are a citizens of the USA.