Constitution aside should there be a test to be able to vote?

1. 93

   peeplesposted 12 years ago

   Constitution aside should there be a test to be able to vote?
   
   We all know this will never happen but with all the people who vote without really informing themselves of the policies would we be any better off if voters were required to take a test on the issues prior to voting?

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2. 65

   MPChrisposted 12 years ago

   While it is considered a logical fallacy, I think the slippery slope applies here. If we test, where do the tests end? Who decides the test?

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3. 85

   LauraGTposted 12 years ago

   It's hard to answer this "constitution aside" but I believe every person has a fundamental right to vote. The reason you give, that people should be more informed, is true, but taking away the right to vote is not the way to achieve that goal. The fall out would be a ton of disenfranchised people, including people who are illiterate, whose first language is not English, or just don't care about the same issues as the test developers. Speaking of which, who would decide what questions are important to ask? What policies or information are important for people to "qualify" them to vote? You will get as many answers to that as there are people in this country.  Thanks for the thought-provoking question! 

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4. 74

   pagesvoiceposted 12 years ago

   Rich, poor, middle class, smart, not so smart or just plain stupid, we all have the right to vote. Even though it would be nice to have an IQ test, it is not how our country was founded and accordingly, we have to let all citizens exercise their rights as an American.

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5. 69

   Joan Kingposted 12 years ago

   Should there be a test to see who should have children, who should get married? If we start testing people to see if they are entitled to basic human rights then the list of who should be tested is endless.

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6. 0

   Gusserposted 12 years ago

   Constitution aside ---A simple test perhaps like. 1. Where is the candidate from? 2. How old is the candidate? THIS would be in ENGLISH. Also remove party affiliation from beside the candidates name. THIS forces the voter to actually think instead of pulling the party lever. If you miss questions 1 or 2 you can't vote in that particular race, move on to the next race and answer. At least it requires a basic idea of who you're voting for, instead of party hacks. But the Constitution is the supreme law of the land.

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7. 59

   glmclendonposted 12 years ago

   This is the first step of stopping people from voting.
   
   Stay Well

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8. 75

   Elani-Leeposted 12 years ago

   Maybe not a test, but maybe at least have them watch a FAIR video on each of the candidates before going into the booth...this is Candidate A, he believes in 1 2 and 3 and he promises to do A, B and C. This is Canidadate B...and so on and so forth. There would be no requirement to pay attention, but at least the voters would have the opportunity to see the bare bones sides of each candidate before voting.

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9. 56

   feenixposted 12 years ago

   In the Old South, black people were required to meet various requirements before they were allowed to vote, and things were rigged in ways in which it was impossible for anyone to meet the requirements.
   
   That practice was called poll tax.

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