Should People with Profound Mental Retardation be Allowed to Vote?

[bathsheba666]

They should have a "special election" where they can "vote" and get stickers and stuff but that doesn't actually mean anything and that nobody cares about.

You mean like a US or UK election, where capitalism carries on regardless?

 

[Zarn]

I have a situation for yea. I used to work at a place called the Guild of Exceptional Children. I worked with profoundly ******** adults. The people who oversaw them (Including me) had a substantial amount of power over them. I could, in effect, make them do whatever I wanted to if a potential reward was involved. Anyway, what if a person in such authority told them all to vote for some politician, and they did.

I still don't see how they are different from other voters. Vote Democrat, because if you don't you are against liberty (oh, the irony). Vote Republican, because if you don't, the terrorists win.

 

[El_Machinae]

I don't want to have some agency determining whether people over 18 are allowed to vote

 

[Mirc]

More seriously, for you to have the right to vote, you must be responsible. Kids don't vote because they're not responsible.

If you're mentally ******** enough that you're declared to not be responsible for your actions, you can't vote

Exactly. You took the words from my mouth.

 

[Phlegmak]

Everyone should have the right to vote. No poll tax, no poll test, no IQ test to determine mental retardation.

 

[mangxema]

Doesn't matter. If it's bad enough, they can't anyway.

 

[mythmonster2]

Yes, absolutely. It is every citizen's right to vote, whether or not they have mental problems or not.

 

[sourboy]

Obviously they are allowed now, Bush is still in office. Sad... a ****** (I don't mean that in a bad way) can vote, but not drive a car?

 

[sourboy]

Yes, absolutely. It is every citizen's right to vote, whether or not they have mental problems or not.

there's an age limit, why not an IQ limit?

 

[mythmonster2]

Well, they still have a right to vote, but frankly, its their decision whether to make an vote based on political debates or a vote based on parties or a vote based on other stuff.

 

[sourboy]

I worked with profoundly ******** adults. I could, in effect, make them do whatever I wanted to if a potential reward was involved. Anyway, what if a person in such authority told them all to vote for some politician, and they did.

Don't most 18 yr olds follow their parents leads, as do couples... how many people actually consider the issues?

I'm guessing maybe 20% of Americans really have a sound basis for their vote.

 

[GinandTonic]

If someone is not legally responsible they should not have the right to vote. Eg if they cannot legally sign a contract or be held criminally liable for their actions and remain an adult ward of their family or the state, they should not have the right to vote.

In practice the numbers or these individuals, and less the number wishing to exercise their right to vote, mean that it is not worth the effort and potential upset to get too heavy about the whole deal. If a home for such individuals tried to put a huge number on the electoral role, then perhaps action could be taken.

 

[MobBoss]

Yes, absolutely. It is every citizen's right to vote, whether or not they have mental problems or not.

Wrong. We dont let children vote for a reason. Neither should we let adults vote that barely have a childs intellect for the same exact reason.

Oh, and everyone that makes the allegation that bush is still in office because we let retards vote....you shouldnt be allowed to vote either for the sole reason your not funny enough to be allowed to vote.

 

[sourboy]

It's np, I didn't vote anyway. My state always goes Blue.

 

[Masquerouge]

Yes. Universal suffrage is without exception.

Yes, absolutely. It is every citizen's right to vote, whether or not they have mental problems or not.

Wrong. We dont let children vote for a reason. Neither should we let adults vote that barely have a childs intellect for the same exact reason.

Eh. As I said in post #11 in this thread... we don't allow kids to vote for a reason, so universal suffrage has exceptions, and kids are not citizens.
I'm siding with MobBoss on this one.

 

[El_Machinae]

Okay, who determines whether "Slow Joe" is smart enough to get a voter card?

 

[Brighteye]

I like the idea of a politics/IQ/literacy/citizenship test for voting rights, citizenship and legal responsibility.

If you can't pass it in English, you don't get any of the above.

 

[MobBoss]

Okay, who determines whether "Slow Joe" is smart enough to get a voter card?

The courts. They already do this sort of thing all the time via competency hearings.

 

[Red Horse]

Most people vote for the "lesser of two evils".

If mentally challenged people can understand this concept then yes they should be allowed to vote.

 

[El_Machinae]

The courts. They already do this sort of thing all the time via competency hearings.

Who takes Slow Joe to court, to deny his voting card?