Polling tax, and other requirements to vote

With those facts (which I wasn't particularly aware of so I give credit to you Butter to enlightening me) I see your point although if it were to be brought back it would then require us to repeat our actions with the prohibition amendments (the prohibition and then canceling that amendment) which if we were going to do that (hypothetically) would make your first point null with the 24th Amendment. That 14th Amendment thing - would be a bit trickier of a workaround if indeed we were to go that direction again. I'll leave my personal opinions on the 14th Amendment aside as it is one of the Amendments that makes me roll my eyes more than most others in its application(s)

I agree it is a small fee, yes, but the fact remains is that a majority of the voters won't pay extra vote; I know I wouldn't. I pay enough in taxes as it is, my right to vote is in those taxes, themselves. That aside though, even if people were to pay the fee AND retain the same amount of voters, there wouldnt be that much larger of an increase in intelligent voting. A few percent, maybe, but nothing like 10-20%+. I'd argue this more but im inbetween classes and its kinda a bitch to. lol

I actually did not think of that first bit there Butters - when you put it that way I'm much more inclined to agree with you (not that I'm so hardcore pro poll tax in the first place). In my opinion the civics test idea I floated around would be a much better way to gauge the informed voter than a poll tax or formal education level. Although I'm sure someone could argue that a civics test would somehow be an impediment (even if somehow it costed nothing and took minimal time to do and only had to be done once). It would be hard to gauge the increase in educated / intelligent votes on a poll tax alone.

My thoughts. Poll Tax: I hate that idea, unless there is a way to apply for a break. Even if it is only a small amount of money. As a medical student I have a high debt and I cringe every time I have to spend money. Obviously, I'll make the money back eventually, but still...paying to vote? Education: Screw that. My grandfather quit school at 6th grade to make money for his family. He was perfectly capable of rational thinking, and still smart enough to help my mom with her algebra when she was in high school. Only people who are working: Screw that too. I had a year before I started medical school and I couldn't get a job because I was "overqualified." Not to mention there are so many reasons people may not be working. Getting laid off isn't a reason to keep someone from voting.

I can't say I agree with any of this. :/ Education: Requiring degrees would mean my dad who has a masters in civic engineering wouldn't be able to vote because he sacrificed his career to work at a flea market and as a repairman to support my family when they immigrated here with nothing. Also, super discriminatory against certain groups who could be very knowledgeable about policies but lacked the opportunity for formal education. Poll tax: I'm already paying taxes. I should have somewhat of a say as to where those taxes go and I shouldn't have to pay extra for that Working people: I wouldn't be able to vote then because I'm an unemployed full time student in grad school The simple reason I'm against all this is just basically that it wouldn't be representative of the country as a whole. With each individual state (or even cities, counties) being different in terms of things like; industry, educational requirements, poverty, financial policies, etc., we can't take only certain classes of people (who might not even be the majority) and say that they are representative of their whole communities whether on the national stage or on a more local level. Those who don't qualify due to certain exclusions still have to live with what the higher socioeconomical class vote in that can have direct impact on their lives.

These steps reduce the incredibly important goals of a democracy to protect minorities. The failures of a democratic state that does not protect its minority populations properly are immense and impossible to describe, but you lose something, something that has been a big part of why America has been so great, and so powerful. The more educated you are and the more money you have, the more likely you are to vote anyway. A tax of even $10 will mean quite a damn large number of people will decide they're just not going to vote. If anything, you should be paid $10 for voting.

That would just decrease the turnout rate. Alot of people already don't vote because it's such a burden to do it. Many other democratic countries don't make people register to vote. They include it with filling out government documents. To include a poll tax would decrease the turnout rate a bit. The only reason it's been high recently is because of its candidates(Bush and Al gore 2004 Obama 2008). Honestly it shouldn't matter who votes. A healthy democracy should promote all their legal constituents to vote. The major of people that come to vote are older, educated (retired or still working). Adding a poll tax would just beat a non-existent horse. A decade, wut? That would eliminate majority of the people in the Military. If a decade applies to when you're legally an adult then anyone 18-27 wouldn't be eligible of vote.