ellohgov'nah

In partical fulfillment of Dr. Simone Yehuda’s class

November 2008

Many commercial ads and other means of advertising had been whizzing past our heads before the end of the 2008 presidential election with a significant portion of them saying to get out and vote. What if some of the viewers are not meant to vote? It would be an understatement to say that many voters are not knowledgeable enough about politics itself, current issues and candidates to make an educated selection on which bubbles to fill in. I propose that there should be an exam that permits or excludes certain people from voting based on their political knowledge to relinquish any type of uncertainty.

A basic entrance exam would have general political questions that include prior knowledge of candidates, current issues, and common misconceptions. Through the process of the exam, many potential voters that were not up to par would be filtered out of the equation. An informational pamphlet-type piece of literature would also be mandated to be read. The literature would include the plans of the candidates and the actuality of real world and national situations. This aspect of voting manipulation process would include a subjection of general facts about all levels of his or her government. Instead of immediately disposing of potential voters, we could give them a chance to learn the corresponding information so they could pass the exam, and in turn, gain the right to vote.

The average political knowledge is not where it should be here in America. We cite the MSM, the progressive media, other blogs, TV, radio, campaign signs, robo-calls, and other ways we get information on who to vote for in an election states Flash (2008). This is not a sturdy basis for which to select our president on. Much of the media today has biases that not all viewers can pick up on. According to Mahalo (2008), “Gayle Quinnell, of Shakopee, Minnesota, told Senator John McCain while attending a rally ‘I don’t trust Obama, I have read about him. He’s an Arab.’ McCain defended Obama saying ‘No, ma’am. He’s a decent, family man, a citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with him on fundamental issues and that’s what this campaign is all about.’” Gayle had some obvious misconceptions about candidate Barak Obama. If John McCain had not corrected Gayle, it is very likely that she may have gone into the voting-booth and voted for a president on the incorrect information. These misconceptions may have been remedied if she was subjected to truthful information and mandated to pass an exam.

The question of whether the mentally retarded should be allowed to vote is of immense interest and practical importance since it bears on the more general questions of personal rights and dignity. Recent moves to relieve the disabilities of the mentally retarded have focused on their right to vote and participate as full citizens in the political system (Green 1980). An exam that would assess their level of political knowledge would phase out any lack of distinction about whether a mentally handicapped person would remain with innate right. 

Only 537 people decided the 2000 election says Snead (2008). If a mere one hundred of them could have been swayed by due to their lack of political knowledge, it would have increased the chance of one candidates chance to win by nearly 20%. Now say if these hypothetical 537 were to have been mandated to read literature and passed the entrance exam, there would be much more confidence in that particular election and not a potential fluke.

            Those who were to pass the exam would feel less indifferent about voting once they earned their right. The feeling that someone less knowledgeable about the issues cancelling out their vote would be less evident. When someone does cancel out another vote by voting opposite the party, it is more likely that that person has made an educated decision for that candidate. This idea would also increase the effect of one vote.

            Although this may be far from coming into effect due to the Constitution of the United States, I believe that this process would solve many of our national problems. In many ways, like driving a car, we all are allowed to do so, but some of us are not capable of operating properly and are putting the lives of others into other people’s hands. In effect, doing so would make a more educated guess on choosing the “right” president and put the fate of our county into the hands of those more politically active.