What Are the Qualifications Required to Vote?

Now here’s something to consider: what should be the criteria that we use to determine whether someone should be allowed to vote? In the Western countries we all seem to accept without question, that once we reach a certain age, we should be allowed to vote, i.e. have a say in the way that we run our societies through the governments we select. But why use age? And at what age? I am sure that we would all agree that some 15 year olds are more mature and worldly wise or more informed about politics (or whatever other criteria we think is appropriate), than many 20 year olds. So using any age criteria is bound to be arbitrary, suitable for some, and not for others. But is this sufficient to endow anyone with such responsibility?

We also seem to accept that if we want to drive a car or be a plumber or practise many other activities in our societies, then we need to be able to demonstrate our suitability through some form of testing. So why should our participation in the democratic process be any different? Is this not one of our most important responsibilities, where our decisions can have enormous consequences? Why therefore do we not expect voters to also demonstrate some ability or knowledge before we allow them to exercise such responsibility? This might be a radical and confronting idea to many, but that does not necessarily mean that it is invalid or not worthy of consideration.

I am not advocating that society should exclude anyone due to race, colour, creed or any of the other common forms of discrimination. I am merely questioning the seemingly unquestionable issue of universal suffrage, based solely on age and nationality. And if upon reflection, we decide that our current qualifications do indeed need improving, then what sort of criteria should we require before we allow someone to vote? Is age alone sufficient? Or nationality, personal integrity, a demonstration of a certain level of understanding or dedication? And how could we measure these in a way that is open to all members of our societies?

We have all frequently heard complaints about governments, but politicians are often placed in impossible positions, torn between short-term or parochial electoral interests and the long term, strategic interests of the country that they are supposed to be representing. If we as voters, were also made to consider or even be aware of these often conflicting interests before we vote, do you not think that perhaps we might take the due care and consideration that we should in selecting our representatives? And might we not end up with better leaders than the present lot?

There are numerous examples of the limitations that universal suffrage can have all across the globe, but especially in developing countries, where governments are too often run by venial, corrupt and unscrupulous individuals, who are only interested in their own selfish interests, even at the expense of the country who elected them. Yes, the electoral system may have been relatively clean and fair, but these sorts of politicians are still elected. Why is this?

It seems to me that whilst we need to select leaders who can best represent the interests of our whole societies, balancing the often conflicting interests of different groups, etc., when we vote we are too often only thinking of who best might serve our own short term, selfish interests. This is bad enough in “developed” Western countries, but it seems to be much worse in developing countries where voters are (often out of necessity and their cultural background) focussed on their own, immediate needs. Is it reasonable or even realistic to expect someone who has no money, job, food, housing or formal education to consider the big, strategic and often esoteric issues that must be faced by governments? And is it reasonable to give the views of these issues from such an individual the same level of importance as say, someone who has devoted their long life to the same issues? Well, in a democratic system of universal suffrage, we do, and alas, we end up getting the politicians we deserve!