why is voting a privilege?
367595
is it really a privilege if our government is really 'for the people by the people? the government was put in place by the people with permission from the people to govern them. voting, therefore, is not a privilege to the people but to the government to keep it securely in place.
841445
I haven't heard about this specifically, but in theory, I agree- it would just bring in uninformed voters. We need voters who have opinions that need to be heard; the payoff of voting is having someone in office to do the job correctly and get things done, what's a better incentive to vote than that?
896878
This one REALLY pisses me off.\n\nThat’s all we need a bunch of uneducated voters just punchin' holes in whatever happens to come to mind at the time!!...There is already a problem with people going into the polls with little facts and lots of fiction why increase that? Voting is a privilege in itself.. it is serious and should be taken seriously. What the hell are they thinking???
291034
No, it would be a contradiction in terms. A right implies free choice to express that right, or not. That which is mandatory takes away one's freedom to do otherwise. Voting IS a right, even a privilege. But choosing not to exercise that right is another freedom in and of itself.\n\nLook, I know where this notion is coming from and on some level I can understand it. Entirely too many people in this country, including well-educated people, routinely fail to vote, even in national elections. It's annoying, especially when the hardliners on both sides of the political divide tend to turn out in droves and vote in lockstep. No wonder there doesn't seem to be any middle ground in American politics anymore. It would be nice to see more people voting and I do my best to encourage it among my more apathetic friends. But making it compulsory is a terrible idea that, thankfully, will not happen here. For what it's worth, even when it's a matter of having to decide between the lesser of two evils, I always vote.\n\nP.S. My first real office job involved working for and with lawyers. I learned a lot. Mostly I learned that a great many lawyers are complete jackasses who are out for self-aggrandizement and personal gain at any cost. This explains much, I think.
24085
Because its democracy
495422
Maybe you are happy with the way things are run, so you see no reason to vote.  But maybe you don't know yet how the government affects you.  Once you do, you may want to vote, or maybe you will think that your vote is powerless to change the system.  It is good that you are at least asking the question.
895157
it needs conscious voting not the rules there are many rules which were bent and broken and often modified by those criminals fot their purpose. the power lies in us voters change it forever. it need education moral values in people those who vote, that may come on one day i waitig for that. hpe it will come soon
508810
It's democratic inasmuch as we vote for stuff.  Anything short of amending the Constitution is subject, directly or indirectly, to a majority vote of the people.
751959
Just like in any election, most registered voters don't show up and a minority determines the outcome.  On the other hand, askers will often select an answer that best suits their ideology or feelings on an issue, rather than actually choosing the best answer. So I suppose you need to take it case by case.  I prefer when the asker chooses the best answer, because at least then I know they are actually reading the answers. But that's nothing to do with democracy.
34721
Voting is just one of the phases in the election process. Our choice is mostly affected by the propaganda and election campaigns as well as by the activities parties perform during the period between two elections. \n\nMany people think that elections are the only way to realize their democratic freedoms, neglecting other activities that can contribute to improve democracy in their countries. The more citizens are included in different levels of activities and decision-makings, the better people will be elected. More precisely, the candidates will feel better controlled.\n\n Consequently, the more passive and unconcerned citizens are, the more effective manipulation and propaganda will be. So, something that appears as one free choice of citizens will actually be the result of manipulation.\n\nHowever, I don't believe in bad and good guys in politics, but just in ones who are better watched by the open court on the one and those who take their chance when nobody watch them on the other hand. Even in the most democratic countries in the World it is just better then in another ones, but still not perfect.
7505
As I understand it, one of the great strengths of a Democracy is not so much the right to vote someone into office but the right to vote them out if you are unhappy with their performance.  Many elections are foregone conclusions and people stay away from the poles.  My parents elected a state representative with only their own two votes when it was discovered that the incumbent had moved and was no longer qualified to run.  They actually favored the imcumbent but knew he only planned to run one more time then retire.  They just wanterd to get the new man's name on the ballot results for next time - but got him elected.  So every vote does count.
236316
It's more. You have a _responsibility_ to vote. Voting is the orgasm of democracy. Unfortunately, most citizens can't get it up.
1161579
The most important benefactor to the voting process is the person doing the voting. There is a disconnect between those who don't vote and the society around themselves. It's a symptom of diminished self-image ..... ie., "My voice isn't important enough to count," vs. "Even if my voice isn't heard by the masses, I'll speak up." As for me, I hate politics, but I love our system. I don't believe in being a victim by default. Hey look, I spoke up. Does this count as a vote?
941888
This is a very timely article describing the efforts to protect our rights to vote using force and legal means if necessary.\n\nThis makes a few connections for me:\n\nThe election of a democratic government in Iraq:\nhttp://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/01/30/iraq.main/\n\nThe efforts and challenges of civil rights and elections:\nhttp://www.civilrights.org/issues/voting/details.cfm?id=34487\n\n\nThe elections during the civil rights movement in the United States:\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_Summer\n\nThere are so many examples of the struggle for democracy around the world and in our own country.  It seems to be a never-ending struggle.\n\nj
785690
You make an excellent point first of all. There are indeed many people who vote with minimal knowledge of the issues and of what's at stake. I can attest to being one of those people myself, but the fact of the matter is, I know the basics of whom I will vote for and whom I will not (I live in Michigan), and to propose a test to qualify to vote is essentially stripping people of their right to vote all over again. I blame the Government Officials (I do not use the term 'Politician') because they make it into a popularity contest. I also blame the media because they egg it on, but I digress.
608258
Things get done quickly and relatively efficiently without the need to vote on things.  Since all of the power is with one person, if the one person is good, then things will be very good.  Of course, there's the downside if the one person isn't that great.
480993
No, because it doesn't matter if you do vote. Politicians do what they want not what they're elected for, and most voting systems don't allow proper representation.