Citizens under 18 can't vote. Many states do not allow felons to vote, even after they are incarcerated, if they haven't paid off their monetary debts linked to their crimes, and some have lifetime bans depending on the crime. Most states have methods to prevent those with severe mental disabilities or illness from voting--some through statutes, some in the actual state constitutions. All of these people are subsets of U.S. citizens, but not all of them have a "right" to vote, no matter how loosely you're using the word. Legally, it's called many things, but in federal law most commonly referred to as a "fundamental liberty interest," which means it can and is protected, but not absolutely.Voting is a privilege, but open by law to all citizens, provided they aren't incarcerated and follow all laws, like registering on time.. Is that right, or at least close? Just wondering.
I disagree. Fortunately, over 20% of U.S. citizens can't vote now. I think it should be higher.But all American citizens have a right to vote.
Wrong again.
C'mon, man. We all know that no right is absolute, but voting is or should be damn close.
Democracy as a practice requires an educated electorate. To the extent we could develop a neutral test for competency and administer it properly, it would make perfect sense to require demonstrated competency. In fact, to the extent we could do that, we could lift the age restriction since that is simply acting as a competency proxy now.
I disagree. Fortunately, over 20% of U.S. citizens can't vote now. I think it should be higher.
Democracy as a practice requires an educated electorate. To the extent we could develop a neutral test for competency and administer it properly, it would make perfect sense to require demonstrated competency. In fact, to the extent we could do that, we could lift the age restriction since that is simply acting as a competency proxy now.
I would have no problem with this as long as potential elected officials also have to pass a test before being put on the ballot.
We have the Bar for lawyers, USMLE for doctors, PE exams for engineers, etc. Why should federal government representation be any different?
At least then we could get candidates that can actually name the three branches of government.
Being under 18 years old (set by the 26th amendment to the Constitution) is your big "gotcha" to get you to the 20% of US citizens who can't vote?
Non-age restrictions amount to a tenth of that, though they vary by state.
Nearly all citizens who are non-felons with no history of committing felonies and no severe mental illness who are of legal age have the protected privilege of voting, provided they follow state rules such as registering on time and providing ID as required.
How's that?
https://www.sentencingproject.org/reports/locked-out-2022-estimates-of-people-denied-voting-rights/
https://www.urban.org/2016-analysis/six-million-americans-are-not-allowed-vote
"You can't make someone listen to reason if they aren't willing to think"-- Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451
I disagree. Fortunately, over 20% of U.S. citizens can't vote now. I think it should be higher.C'mon, man. We all know that no right is absolute, but voting is or should be damn close.
Democracy as a practice requires an educated electorate. To the extent we could develop a neutral test for competency and administer it properly, it would make perfect sense to require demonstrated competency. In fact, to the extent we could do that, we could lift the age restriction since that is simply acting as a competency proxy now.
The Founders vision of an elite, educated, virtuous electorate went out the window with the rise of the Jacksonians.
Nevertheless, I doubt you seriously think we should be looking to shrink the electorate down to those who can make rational, educated decisions. Start with this one question: did Joe Biden win a free and fair election?
I disagree. Fortunately, over 20% of U.S. citizens can't vote now. I think it should be higher.
Democracy as a practice requires an educated electorate. To the extent we could develop a neutral test for competency and administer it properly, it would make perfect sense to require demonstrated competency. In fact, to the extent we could do that, we could lift the age restriction since that is simply acting as a competency proxy now.
I would have no problem with this as long as potential elected officials also have to pass a test before being put on the ballot.
We have the Bar for lawyers, USMLE for doctors, PE exams for engineers, etc. Why should federal government representation be any different?
At least then we could get candidates that can actually name the three branches of government.
I absolutely think we should shrink the electorate in that way if it could be done fairly and administered properly. Big "if" that probably can't be accomplished, but maybe AI could do it.I disagree. Fortunately, over 20% of U.S. citizens can't vote now. I think it should be higher.C'mon, man. We all know that no right is absolute, but voting is or should be damn close.
Democracy as a practice requires an educated electorate. To the extent we could develop a neutral test for competency and administer it properly, it would make perfect sense to require demonstrated competency. In fact, to the extent we could do that, we could lift the age restriction since that is simply acting as a competency proxy now.
The Founders vision of an elite, educated, virtuous electorate went out the window with the rise of the Jacksonians.
Nevertheless, I doubt you seriously think we should be looking to shrink the electorate down to those who can make rational, educated decisions. Start with this one question: did Joe Biden win a free and fair election?
The Founders aren't the first or last word on what makes democracies effective, just as Marx isn't the last word on socialism (nor was he the first).
Re Biden, you have to define those terms. Let me reframe it: Biden legally won the 2020 election and no credible evidence has ever been presented of widespread voter fraud that could have overturned his win. Were the measure put in place re mail in ballots, etc. "fair?" Tougher question (although it's not one I've spent a lot of time worrying about). I don't think reasonable people can disagree about the first; the second, I'm not sure.
LOL. You don't even comprehend what I wrote.Being under 18 years old (set by the 26th amendment to the Constitution) is your big "gotcha" to get you to the 20% of US citizens who can't vote?
Non-age restrictions amount to a tenth of that, though they vary by state.
Nearly all citizens who are non-felons with no history of committing felonies and no severe mental illness who are of legal age have the protected privilege of voting, provided they follow state rules such as registering on time and providing ID as required.
How's that?
https://www.sentencingproject.org/reports/locked-out-2022-estimates-of-people-denied-voting-rights/
https://www.urban.org/2016-analysis/six-million-americans-are-not-allowed-vote
Stop wasting my time. Go look it up.
Being under 18 years old (set by the 26th amendment to the Constitution) is your big "gotcha" to get you to the 20% of US citizens who can't vote?
Non-age restrictions amount to a tenth of that, though they vary by state.
Nearly all citizens who are non-felons with no history of committing felonies and no severe mental illness who are of legal age have the protected privilege of voting, provided they follow state rules such as registering on time and providing ID as required.
How's that?
https://www.sentencingproject.org/reports/locked-out-2022-estimates-of-people-denied-voting-rights/
https://www.urban.org/2016-analysis/six-million-americans-are-not-allowed-vote
NOBODY gets it wrong more than Shooter!!
yep I was correct. Crawford v. Marion County Election Board(Indiana!) established that voter ID laws are legal if states provide free IDs of some sort that can be used for voting.I could be wrong but I believe states are required to offer a free voter ID if a person cannot or does not want a regular ID. And if you misplace your voter ID you can get another for free.It doesn't matter how and why its lost. The replacement cost money. A fee. Which means it cannot be used as a requirement to vote. The 24th is really clear. One of the most clear amendments we have. Even dumbasses like me can read it and understand it.what if it was stolen? What if it burned in a fire? What if your parents or someone else lost it?@ohio-guy ordering a copy of your birth certificate means you misplaced the original. It happens, we’re human. I couldn’t tell you where exactly my original is at the moment.
That is of course my failing. And any associated fees that come with ordering a new one is a result of that failing.
Is this a high bar for being able to vote in federal elections? As others have pointed out, do we want people that can’t get their shit together enough to produce a birth certificate and/ or passport to even be voting in elections?
My sense is this really isn’t electorally damaging to Democrats if non-citizen voting is not widespread as we’ve been assured.
The average Campus leftist can produce a passport. Campus leftist loves telling you about their trip to Copenhagen and how the Euros have cracked the code on building a functional society.
MAGA Mark in Mississippi might be more likely to fall among the half of Americans that don’t even own a passport.
Also it's still cost money to replace and the 24th amendment seems pretty clear on that.
What if it was stolen by aliens? What if a ghost took it?
In this thing called life, sometimes inconvenient things will happen to you that are beyond your control. And being adult means you take necessary steps to rectify those things.
Your view that producing proof of citizenship amounts to a poll tax is unlikely to be shared by SCOTUS. If that were the case, states with voter ID laws would be in breach of the 24th.
I admire the certitude with which you speak though. It might even lead some to believe you know what you’re talking about.
Even a dumbass like me can use Google! Not sure what your excuse is.
Your interpretation of that case is that it mandates free ID’s nationwide? You’re an absolute moron.
Big "if" that probably can't be accomplished, but maybe AI could do it.
AI will make voting obsolete, anyway.
Being under 18 years old (set by the 26th amendment to the Constitution) is your big "gotcha" to get you to the 20% of US citizens who can't vote?
Non-age restrictions amount to a tenth of that, though they vary by state.
Nearly all citizens who are non-felons with no history of committing felonies and no severe mental illness who are of legal age have the protected privilege of voting, provided they follow state rules such as registering on time and providing ID as required.
How's that?
https://www.sentencingproject.org/reports/locked-out-2022-estimates-of-people-denied-voting-rights/
https://www.urban.org/2016-analysis/six-million-americans-are-not-allowed-vote
NOBODY gets it wrong more than Shooter!!
You must not own a mirror 😉
Latest Post: Iran War Has Started Our newest member: Richard Haynes Recent Posts Unread Posts
