Abstract
Equal distribution of suffrage is given a nearly “quasi-religious” status by democrats. However, the right to vote rests on a presumption of capacity, and knowledge and competence therefore are important features of democratic arrangements. Democratic theory often assumes that, in order for (representative) democracy to work properly, the average citizen should be interested in, and pay attention to, politics. In reality, however, only a minority of citizens live up to these standards. This paper examines whether demands of uncontroversial knowledge, that is, knowledge about what it means to vote, can be demanded of voters in order for them to be allowed to vote. It is concluded that, for reasons of justice and “issues of mutual concern”, such demands can be raised regarding such uncontroversial knowledge (but perhaps not for knowledge more controversial in kind).
Highlights
In the modern, Western world equal distribution of suffrage is given a nearly “quasi-religious” status by democrats
This paper has examined whether knowledge in the form of knowing what it means to vote—that voting has consequences, and that those consequences may be unjust—can be demanded of voters in order to be allowed to vote
The above sections have established that such knowledge can be demanded, otherwise voters may unintentionally contribute to the keeping of an unjust and harmful system
Summary
Western world equal distribution of suffrage is given a nearly “quasi-religious” status by democrats. Knowledge and competence are important features of democratic arrangements, and democratic theory often assume that, in order for (representative) democracy to work properly, the average citizen should be interested in, and pay attention to, politics. Such interest and attention, it is assumed, allow for political decisions on behalf of the voters (e.g. a vote) that are rationally considered and that properly reflect voters’ self-interest and the common good Before embarking on this quest, a discussion on what kind of knowledge this paper deals with is warranted
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