Universal Suffrage - The Right To Vote

[barry1010]

I am asking specifically about general elections.  The majority of British citizens aged 18 and over have the right to vote.

Should this change?  Should more people be excluded, such as those who have chosen to live overseas, ex-prisoners who have committed certain crimes (those convicted of election fraud already cannot vote)?  Maybe you believe only homeowners should vote.  Should the age be raised back to 21?

Should more people be allowed to vote?  Those aged 16+?  Perhaps no adult should be barred from voting.

Should voting be compulsory, with the right to vote for 'none'?

I'm interested in your opinions.  Everyone is aware of the women fighting for the right to vote, which was granted in 1928 but it was only in 1918 that all men over 21 had the vote.

 

[rccatnap]

I believe that if you're old enough to die for your country, then you should be able to vote, so 18 years old should be the minimum. No upper age limit, unless you're deemed medically incompetant. 

Although pensioners may be seen as not currrently being 'net contributers', they actually have been all their working lives. Their taxes paid for contemporary government pensions, just as current tax payers are now paying for them. They have probably also been contributing to their company or private pensions, so are now, rightly, reaping the benefits. They would still be paying taxes.

No, I don't think voting should be compulsory, but a clause on the voting paper should include, 'None of the above'.

It would be a way of letting the powers that be know how unsatisfactory their party is considered.

If you choose not to vote, so be it, but I think you lose a little of the moral right to bitterly criticise those that do end up governing the country.

If you do live abroad, but still pay UK taxes, then you should be allowed to vote. If you live abroad and do not pay UK taxes, then you should lose the right to vote, in my opinion.

[naomi24]

Possibly an exception for those serving abroad in the armed forces - perhaps they could have their own polling stations set up - but for the rest, tough.  

[Redhelen72]

The net voting idea interesting but has a major flaw as regards to the pension comment - you do not payin as much as you receive from the pension.

in other words once you hit your credit point you start getting debit markers.

[Canary42]

I am not housebound but my polling station is too far for me to walk. So I would need to take a taxi. So I have to pay to vote - OK let's apply that to everyone, £8 to vote, refundable against travel expenses. Is that what we want - i think not.

[naomi24]

What did you do before postal voting, Canary?  

[Deskdiary]

"TORATORATORA, would you bar those unable to work because of serious health conditions or caring responsibilities"

Far be it for me to answer on TTT's behalf, but I'm sure he means those who won't work rather than those who can't work.

[Deskdiary]

I'm definitely against children being allowed to vote. You reach legal adulthood in the UK at 18, so 18 seems the right age to be allowed to vote.

[Canary42]

I was fitter before postal voting came in naomi.

[naomi24]

Other people weren't though, Canary, and yet somehow they managed.  I worry that postal voting is too open to abuse.

[davebro3]

12.31 - I agree completely with untitled.

[Mozz71]

Interested to learn why people think the under 21s should be stopped from voting. If a 20 year old is working and paying tax, they should have as much say as the next person. I'm sure that isn't being said here because a larger number of young people have more leftist attitudes.

[ToraToraTora]

12:22, no NHS treatment would not be deducted. You'll be fine nobs.

[ToraToraTora]

untitled: "voting should be compulsory and a "none of the above" option added" - So your damned well having democracy whether you like it or not! That's not democracy. The point is choice and not voting at all is foolish of course but a valid choice.

[ToraToraTora]

tccatnap: "Although pensioners may be seen as not currrently being 'net contributers', they actually have been all their working lives." - I already said that the the pension is not a benefit.

[ToraToraTora]

canary: "I am not housebound but my polling station is too far for me to walk. So I would need to take a taxi. So I have to pay to vote - OK let's apply that to everyone, £8 to vote, refundable against travel expenses. Is that what we want - i think not." depends how important voting is to you.

[Atheist]

All laws restrict somebody's choice. That doesn't make them undemocratic.

[ToraToraTora]

dd: 2Far be it for me to answer on TTT's behalf, but I'm sure he means those who won't work rather than those who can't work." - yes indeed the parameters would need careful working out, I am merely putting forward the principle that net contributors get the vote. In the long run there would be fewer and fewer work shy scum when this feeds through. The nit pickers can snipe around the edges but I think even they realise that the details would need working out but the principle is clear.

[Untitled]

"So your damned well having democracy whether you like it or not! That's not democracy. "
 

erm yes it is. democracy means rule by the people... it does not mean "everyone is happy" or "nobody is inconvenienced"

[ToraToraTora]

untitled: Rubbish, democracy is choice to vote or not. Forcing that is dictating.

[bhg481]

Democracy is asking the people if they think voting shuld be compulsory and listening to the result.