Should everyone be allowed to vote?

I just read this horribly slanted "news article" (I won't link it b/c they don't deserve the pageviews) that was essentially demonizing the Republican party because of new voting laws/regulations that have been enacted. Now, I'm no fan of the Republicans, but I don't see what the fuss is about. Basically all the rules were:
 
1) Some states make you present a government issued ID before you can vote
2) Some states make you prove you're a US citizen before you can register to vote
3) Some states are not allowing ex-felons to vote
 
Now, these all seem like sane stipulations for voting to me. The article was insinuating that all these rules were put in to block Obama from getting reelected, and that made them the worst things ever to happen to anyone ever. But...I mean...you have to have an ID? You have to be a citizen and never have been to prison? Those are the people who should be voting, anyway. Why should non-citizens, or people who've never bothered to get an ID (a non-drivers licence ID costs $10 in my state) be voting anyhow? I guess prisoners could be argued for--they did their time and, by being out, are supposedly rehabilitated into cheery-eyed citizens again--but (and this is my personal opinion) I think the justice system in the US is too weak anyhow, so I don't have any issues for this.
 
I don't know. Is this actually a horrible thing and am I a horrible person for not thinking so?

Democracy is stupid.

Yes. 
 
Next topic. 

You should have to have been a U.S. citizen for at least 1 year, be at least 18 years of age and show I.D. and proof of citizenship when you vote.

Edit: Don't take this as me saying "ONLY REAL MERCANS SHOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE" I don't care where you came from or how you get here, just take the gd time to actually become a U.S. citizen then you can do what ever any other U.S. citizen can do.

@Meowshi: Even people who aren't US citizens?

I don't see why felons shouldn't be allowed to vote.  It seems like just another thing to make them fall back into their old ways.  

Everybody but me.

I'm against interred felons being allowed to vote, but apart from that, everyone over the age of 18 who is a citizen, although I think providing an ID is reasonable.

I'm not sure interred means what you think it does.  

Democracy is stupid.

@Meowshi: Yeah not letting felons vote doesn't really make since, still a U.S. citizen so they should still be able to vote.

I'm against interred felons being allowed to vote, but apart from that, everyone over the age of 18 who is a citizen, although I think providing an ID is reasonable."  

Democracy isn't stupid, people are, and people vote.

The only people who shouldn't be allowed to vote are the mentally unfit and people currently incarcerated in prison. That's a big one for america considering how big the prison population is.

Wow, this thread is being owned by imperialists...

You should have to have been a U.S. citizen for at least 1 year, be at least 18 years of age and show I.D. and proof of citizenship when you vote.

Edit: Don't take this as me saying "ONLY REAL MERCANS SHOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE" I don't care where you came from or how you get here, just take the gd time to actually become a U.S. citizen then you can do what ever any other U.S. citizen can do.

people who are ex-felons should be able to vote and you should just have to bring an ID. thats all.

The United States of America has a Constitutional Republic, not a Democracy. 

Yeah I guess

You can't have democracy without risking imbeciles voting for stupid things. And you can't have a utopia without fascism. Everyone should ethically be allowed to vote. But rationally speaking, not everyone is capable of forming smart, educated deductions of the available facts because they're too subjective and rarely see the big picture and they don't have other people's happiness in mind.

Sure, vote away!

American politics are fun to watch.

All the anti-democracy nuts jumped all over this thread, amusing.

However, I am a full supporter on blocking voting in this country to those who don't commit or use any part of effort to become a citizen of this nation. We are electing a President, and although that may not seem grand to some, it is, and to allow those that do not have the common sense to gather an ID or who have sullied this nation with their crime, do not deserve that right. I believe a Felon has the right to vote, only if he has proven himself to be a betterment of the nation instead of a detriment.

Then again, I am also the guy who believes everyone should need a certain score on an IQ test in order to vote, because half of them vote for some of the dumbest reasons I have ever heard.

I agree that only US citizens should be allowed to vote for US related governmental issues because they are the ones that ultimately pay or gain from those votes.  BUT, the whole 'ex-felons can't vote' business is idiotic.  If a person serves their time to completion and leaves prison amicably then their should be no reason their lives should have limitations placed on them.

@JasonR86 said:

I agree that only US citizens should be allowed for US related governmental issues because they are the ones that ultimately pay or gain from those votes. BUT, the whole 'ex-felons can't vote' business is idiotic. If a person serves their time to completion and leaves prison amicably then their should be no reason their lives should have limitations on it.

I agree.

My suspicion is that the article the OP mentioned has its panties twisted because the voting laws affect African-Americans and Latinos, who vote Democrat most of the time. However, that doesn't mean that the two things are related.

If there's a state where non-citizens can vote, our political system is more fucked than I thought. I see no problem with requiring an ID, but not letting felons vote hardly seems necessary. On the other hand, if felons make up significant portion of a candidate's votes, I don't think that says much good about that candidate.

@skrutop said:

@JasonR86 said:

I agree that only US citizens should be allowed for US related governmental issues because they are the ones that ultimately pay or gain from those votes. BUT, the whole 'ex-felons can't vote' business is idiotic. If a person serves their time to completion and leaves prison amicably then their should be no reason their lives should have limitations on it.

I agree.

My suspicion is that the article the OP mentioned has its panties twisted because the voting laws affect African-Americans and Latinos, who vote Democrat most of the time. However, that doesn't mean that the two things are related.

'They might not be related, but you wont hear the republicans complain. I personally don't think being a felon should exclude you from voting, it's just another way to make sure they feel like they are living outside the society and have no responsibility towards it.

Trusting the public to elect people is insane, they should just appoint the smartest man in the world emperor and he can decide what we should do, much easier that way, no more elections campaigns, no more ridiculous politicians, and we'd be in good hands and no more need to think about this stuff.

Yes, like in Norway, if you are 18, you can vote, criminal or not.

Sure, as long as they're a citizen and the appropriate age.

@DonutFever said:

@Inkerman said:

I'm against interred felons being allowed to vote, but apart from that, everyone over the age of 18 who is a citizen, although I think providing an ID is reasonable."

I absolutely agree. Felons who are buried should totally not be able to vote.

I know it sounds very prejudice but all buried americans should not be allowed to vote, they are a menace to society and need to be eradicated.

While I have sympathy for the argument that even the disadvantaged and uneducated deserve representation, I would not mind a very basic civics test for voters.

How can a person be expected to make a halfway decent choice for who they want to be their senator, for example, if they do not have an underlying grasp of what a senator is/does?

I think voting should be based on awareness rather that age, but that'd be harder to enforce.

While I have sympathy for the argument that even the disadvantaged and uneducated deserve representation, I would not mind a very basic civics test for voters.

How can a person be expected to make a halfway decent choice for who they want to be their senator, for example, if they do not have an underlying grasp of what a senator is/does?

Trusting the public to elect people is insane, they should just appoint the smartest man in the world emperor and he can decide what we should do, much easier that way, no more elections campaigns, no more ridiculous politicians, and we'd be in good hands and no more need to think about this stuff.

Trusting the public to elect people is insane, they should just appoint the smartest man in the world emperor and he can decide what we should do, much easier that way, no more elections campaigns, no more ridiculous politicians, and we'd be in good hands and no more need to think about this stuff.

You should have to pass a test before you are allowed to vote.

Yes, as soon as you start deciding who can and cannot vote, democracy fails. (Within reason.)

Obviously incarcerated felons and people not legally part of the country should be barred from voting. People walking over the border from canada and voting for the next US president would be kind of strange, as would letting convicted serial killers decide who they want in office.

Everyone should ethically be allowed to vote. But rationally speaking, not everyone is capable of forming smart, educated deductions of the available facts because they're too subjective and rarely see the big picture and they don't have other people's happiness in mind.

Yes, as soon as you start deciding who can and cannot vote, democracy fails. (Within reason.)

Obviously interred felons and people not legally part of the country should be barred from voting. People walking over the border from canada and voting for the next US president would be kind of strange, as would letting convicted serial killers decide who they want in office.

@Meowshi said:

@Mikemcn said:

Yes, as soon as you start deciding who can and cannot vote, democracy fails. (Within reason.)

Obviously interred felons and people not legally part of the country should be barred from voting. People walking over the border from canada and voting for the next US president would be kind of strange, as would letting convicted serial killers decide who they want in office.

I'm again confused by the use of the word "interred" here. Am I missing something?

You missed the part where i'm an idiot, I meant Incarcerated, I read interred in an earlier post and used it without thinking.

It's problem because there is no wave of mass voter impersonation. They are attempting to solve a problem that doesn't exist. But implemeneting stricter rules will end inevitably see these rules being inacted poorly and will end up disenfranchising a large number of voters. Florida has infamously purged thousands of legitimate voters from their voter registrations. In the end it will end up doing far more damage than good.   

I agree that only US citizens should be allowed to vote for US related governmental issues because they are the ones that ultimately pay or gain from those votes.  BUT, the whole 'ex-felons can't vote' business is idiotic.  If a person serves their time to completion and leaves prison amicably then their should be no reason their lives should have limitations placed on them.

Yes, i think so.

Unfortunately, yes. Which is the fundamental flaw of democracy.