Rules on Voting in America

[Ceska]

CNN is wrong. Honestly, I don't think that any of those were the major causes which lead people to vote for Bush. What did? Stupidity, lack of caring and laziness.

Hardly anybody who votes has a valid reason as to why they are voting for or against something.

CNN is wrong at times, yes... But those were the people's responses not CNN (it was a poll). You'll notice that the result seems to be actually in agreement with what you just said. "Most important qualities" are not positions on issues but vague concepts of shared ideology and perception of personality traits. (Is he "a decider?", is he "for positive change?", "does he believe in hope?") If the people vote based solely on such things (which is not necessarily true) then they are showing exactly the traits you describe - stupidity, lack of caring and laziness.

If you asked 100 people who voted for Barack Obama why they voted the way that they did, I will guarantee you that at least 90 of those people wouldn't even be able to tell you Obama's stand on different issues that effect our country. It's sad, but true. Our country is full of stupid people who act like they know what's going on, even though they are the most ignorant mother fuckers around.

Stated very bluntly and unfortunately probably true.

 

[Latterer]

If I am correct I believe thats convicted felons can not vote.
Is this true?

I can make an arguement for people who have and/or are currently recieving social welfare within a period of time.

The reason being that not contributing is one thing, but if you are actually taking from society without contributing at all then you will be likely too vote for those who will only be more likely to continue giving you more free stuff.
With that once a large sector of society is on the 100% recieving end they will be a huge factor in the outcome of the election,therefore taking the country on a downward spiral until the camels back breaks.

But a law like this would be too contraversial, cause even more laws needed and is probably uncontstitutional.
so forgetaboutit.

I really disagree with the law against felons voting, solely on the basis that US three strikes laws change your third misdemeanor to a felony. Let's say a as a kid you are convicted of tagging fences on three occasions. If the third offense is a felony, we're saying you forfit the right to vote for fence tagging.
While I don't approve of tagging, that shouldn't be the cause of your forfeiting the right to vote.

 

[Funkwerkz]

In Turkland, i am currently eiglible both to vote and to be a candidate for parliament. I'm thinking of putting myself as a candidate for the next elections in 2012. YAY!

Here in Turkland, the only requirements to vote are to be a citizen of Turkish Republic with an ID number and to be free at the time of election.

 

[Gordar]

Same here. You have to be 18 or become 18 the year that the elections are being held & you have to have the dutch nationality.

That's also all that is needed IMHO, so I voted other.

Besides, what makes someone a good ruler/voter? A high IQ? Einstein had a high IQ but he was as anti social as you can get & I doubt he knew much about the economy, so would he be a good voter?

What if the majority of the people ended up on welfare in the future? Would that make them lesser people or would there be something fundamentally wrong with the country? Maybe they would have the solution.

What if your wife is a democrat, your oldest son is a libertan and you are a republican. Would you give up your vote so that your son or wife could vote? I have to say doubt it.

So none of the options the original poster presented are an improvement.

Where I live, one votes in a public building (usually a school, as they're present in every suburb). The place where you can vote is appointed to you and they have a list with everyone who can vote at that location, so you cannot vote at more than 1 location & because they keep check on who has voted, you cannot vote more than once.

You don't have to register (everyone over 18 and with the dutch nationality is automatically registered) so everyone can vote (of course you don't have to in the Netherlands, which IS the case in Belgium).

Maybe the US would be better of with such a system...

 

[Jagger69]

I would be against all of those ideas/requirments.

I would agree totally with this statement. If you are an American citizen of majority age then you should be allowed to vote, plain and simple.

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

True... and the very uneducated did not support him as well.
It seems, education level and support for Bush was mixed.

A look back...

At the time Bush was elected, very uneducated (high school or less) and very highly educated (post-graduate and doctoral) were predominantly Democrat ...while the middle (college / university educated) were predominantly Republican.

According to Pew Research Center for the People and the Press...

1997-2000 (Rep / Dem)
< HS = (20 / 39)
HS = (26 / 34)
Some College = (30 / 31)
College = (35 / 28)
Post-Grad = (29 / 34)

2004 (Rep / Dem)
< HS = (20 / 41)
HS = (28 / 34)
Some College = (32 / 31)
College = (33 / 32)

http://people-press.org/report/?pageid=750
http://people-press.org/commentary/?analysisid=95

CNN exit poll of 13,660 people in 2004 seemed to have more or less followed this trend...
2004 (Bush / Kerry)
No High School = (49/50)
H.S. Graduate = (52/47)
Some College = (54/46)
College Graduate = (52/46)
Post-Grad Study = (44/55)

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/US/P/00/epolls.0.html

So apparently lack of education is not what convinced people to vote for Bush as much as other things such as their agreements with him on ideology.
Top most important qualities for Bush supporters at the time per CNN...
(Religious Faith,Strong Leader,Clear Stand on Issues, etc...)

Because all the illegal aliens loved el Presidente Boosh...

 

[Will E Worm]

How about being a citizen?

In a free democracy everyone should be able to vote no matter who they are and what they have and as long as they are at the right voteing age.

Putting restrictions on voteing brings you closer towards totalitarianism.

I agree, be a citizen without restrictions.

We might have the right to elect, but we do not have the right to select.
That has to change.

Because the supposed two-party system is a scam.

 

[Violator79]

As some of you may be aware, I do not vote. I believe it's a waste of time and totally pointless. All elections are pre-determined in my book and even if we do "VOTE" in our "leaders", are we really in charge? I think not.

But for those of you who enjoy voting, I believe one of the big requirements should be you have to have a higher IQ. I believe people who vote just for the sake of voting and not really knowing what each candidate's stands on important issues are, are complete idiots. Chances are people with higher IQ's, who take the time to understand the issues involved, are the ones who should be allowed to vote, and actually may make some difference. I know voting doesn't change anything. If people who don't give a shit vote in shitty leaders, they have no one to blame but themselves. Just as the saying goes, garbage in, garbage out. Higher IQ'ed people may raise the intelligence level of the American gene pool.

Now to paraphrase George Carlin again: " ....you're gonna have another one of those elections you enjoy so much. It should be a lot of fun and go out and enjoy yourself. I'm sure the country will improve immediately. But as for me, I'll be at home that day doing basically the same things as you. The only difference is, when I get finished masturbating, I'm gonna have a little something to show for it, folks."

 

[Becks...poamr]

I feel like one vote per household is sufficient

Fuck that.

Senob votes Democrat. I vote Republican.

What would we do--flip a coin? Short straw loses? :wtf:

 

[Dawn]

I should be the only one with the right to vote! :1orglaugh


Seriously, why does anyone would want to deny the voting right to anyone on any of these basis? Democracy isnt perfect, of course, but that's the less bad system we have, no?

We all know the saying I disagree with you but i will fight for your right to be able to voice your opinion (meh, i cant remember the exact saying :o)... for the sake of this discussion, i would only say that even if i dont belong to a group which is denied of his voting right, i will fight for their right to vote.

Including felons of any kind.

:2 cents:

 

[titsrock]

why is this getting bumped? Ninety your poll was horrific and I think we need to do an IQ check on you to see if your meet sufficient requirements for poll construction.

What is average or above average IQ? What the hell does welfare have to do with anything? Why stop there? Why not disqualify those receiving SSI?

I do believe that current prisoners in jail should not vote. Prisoners forfeit their rights to citizenship and must earn their rights by serving their time. This does not mean we treat prisoners inhumane.

Society does not exist in a vacuum. I should be able to discuss the pros/cons of candidates/issue with my fellow citizens/family whether or not we are of the same education/financial level. That is how I can affect voting if I feel inclined to do so.

 

[wrayven]

Valid US citizenship should be the only requirement. Granted, we need to raise the bar on civics education and maybe change some of the unsavory aspects of the elections itself. However, making any requirement beyond being 18 years old and being a US citizen is a step towards a more Fascistic system.