Should you even be required to watch debates or know the issues in order to vote?
2007-10-01 13:06:07 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
qtpie,are you watchin CNN too?
2007-10-01 13:15:45 · update #1
While I applaud your desire for an educated populace in the voting booth and agree with your hope that people aren't just voting "D" or "R" or for "the cute one" or "like my daddy", etc., I'm concerned that any sort of a voting "intelligence test" would become swayed into a litmus test based around the "PC" voting views of the party in power at the moment.
I always try to encourage new voters to check out Project VoteSmart. It's a great way to find out how the candidates have already voted, who endorses them and who gives them money. If you know those things, you know a lot about whether they agree with your views or not.
2007-10-01 13:32:31 · answer #1 · answered by Greg R (2015 still jammin') 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, first we need to have some ACTUAL debates!! Not 30-second sound bites to stupid questions like, "Do you believe in evolution!"
I have not heard much DEBATE at all!! But what do you expect when most Americans have attention spans shorter than those of a fruit fly.
I fully support Newt Gingrich's idea of 9 ninety-minute debates during the 9 weeks leading up to the election between the two nominated candidates. Maybe then we would get some actual substance!
2007-10-01 20:11:50 · answer #2 · answered by thealligator414 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No way, I decide who I am going to vote for based on their record, not what they say during debates moderated mainly by Liberals or phony things like on-line debates. The whole debate system is a scam to fool the average and below average intelligence people out there. I'll do my own research thank-you.
2007-10-01 20:14:28 · answer #3 · answered by Yo it's Me 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It would be nice if people understood the issues, but I'm not certain that the debates would be able to do that.
Like it or not, the right to vote for those who qualify is out there. I dread the thought of having uneducated voters show up and cast their ballot. Or those who vote for one issue, or those who toss a coin. We can't force them to show interest.
2007-10-01 20:11:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, that sort of thing was tried in the past. It is akin to the tests given African Americans in order to attempt to keep them from voting before the voting rights laws in 1964 and 64.
2007-10-01 20:14:27 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
No, but it should be required to know the English lagnuage. You can only vote if you are a citizen, you can only become one if you have some understanding of the language. WHY the **** do they print ballots in other languages!
2007-10-01 20:12:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
How would you enforce it? More government interference. Anyway, what makes you think the participants even understand the debates.
2007-10-01 20:14:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
That would be a desirable requirement but, unfortunately it would be unconstitutional to detain a person from voting because of their ignorance.
2007-10-01 20:11:26 · answer #8 · answered by Don't Know 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Amendment XV.
Section. 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
Section. 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment XIX
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation
Amendment XXIV
Section. 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.
Section. 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Amendment XXVI
Section. 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.
Section. 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
2007-10-01 20:12:47 · answer #9 · answered by secretservice 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It would be great if people were more informed, but as far as being "required", that will never happen.
2007-10-01 21:53:18 · answer #10 · answered by Freethinker 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋