'Only educated People should have the right to vote.' What is your view.

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Key words: Only, Educated. RIGHT TO VOTE.
Unpack key terms. Educated means having knowledge, having access to information.
Maturity that comes with the attainment of knowledge? vote, simply put is a democratic or
a country with rudiments of democracy.

Introduction:
The right to vote has been contested throughout history, with the marginalized often left
out of the voting process. Feminists for instance, have argued for universal suffrage, and
for women to be included in the electoral process. In the twenty-first century however,
parameters have shifted, and traditional gender and roots of division like class are
arguably less pivotal in debates on the right to vote. Rather, ones level of education, which
most conventionally see to be a good gauge of intellectual maturity and good judgment
has taken centre stage with its rising importance in a supposed knowledge-based global
economy. Unlike class and gender, the divide between the educated and the supposedly
uneducated as not as distinct, and herein lies and inherent flaw in the question, that is
the assumption that it is possible to define what is an educated person in the first place
and thus, classify a population on this basis.
1st extreme:
Central to the argument that only educated people should have a right to vote in elections,
proponents of the argument often posit that it is what education has the ability to bestow
upon an individual that is imperative to consider. A large majority would agree that
education entails the development of critical thinking, sound judgments and thus a sharper
mind that would allow one to exercise acumen and foresight and make informed decisions
at elections. As such, the exclusion of the uneducated from the voting process, more
competent individuals would be able to take their rightful places as leaders of the world.
Furthermore, they propound that the educated are less likely to be swayed by emotional
populist policies as they have the ability to assess the benefits to them in both the short
term and long term. Thus, they prove why only the educated should have the right to vote.
2nd extreme:
In perfect antithesis, the most common argument put forth by exponents is that the right to
vote is a human right, founded on the Universal Declaration of human rights by the United
Nations (UN) and such a right is given when one is born and it does not have to be earned.
As such, by giving the right to vote to only the educated would be the violation of human
rights. Deprivation of rights of people often have dire consequences, which includes
violence means. An example always used with light to not giving people the right to vote, is

Sri Lanka. For so many years has deprived the Tamil in Sri Lanka of the right to vote. This
resulted in a civil war for so many years with countless victims. The ramifications of
depriving a certain group the right to vote be it a race or the uneducated is certainly
devastating. Thus, propelling the argument that everyone regardless of education level,
should have the right to vote.

In my opinion, proponents of both argument have valid points, but i lean to the view that
the right to vote should not only be given to the educated, however, with the condition that
the people have the right and sufficient information to make the right decision. While the
first argument may be hold certain modicum of truth, the argument is heavy laden with
assumptions. The fundamental flaw of the question itself, that is, the ambiguity in defining
an "educated person". Most would qualify an educated person as one with high academic
qualifications. However, consider the elections that not only looks at the academics
qualification of a person, but one's morals as well, would it not be necessary to consider
and take into account "moral education" of people as well and not just the paper
certifications of empty degrees? Both billionaires Bill Gates and Apple co-founder Steve
Jobs were both school drop-outs, yet it would be most certainly be a fallacy to say they
lack steady business acumen and foresight. Would they be then deprived the right to vote?
Moreover, if we allow morals and sound decision-making to enter our definition of what
constitutes being educated, how can we objectively decide who is sufficiently educated in
terms of their ability to make wise decisions to vote? Therefore, the proposition is
untenable and ultimately pointless.
This leads me to my next argument where clearly, a voting process does not simply involve
the choice of good leaders, but rather, it is also in a way an examination of the morals of
society, and whether individuals have the moral capacity to make this choices. From the
Philippines to Indonesia, voting systems are often marred by bribery and corruption. This
leads one to question if education can necessarily eradicate those evils. Does education
equate to a more ethical behavior? Human greed, as is the right to vote, is universal. It
challenges all individuals to take a moral high ground, but how many are able to do so?
Disallowing the educated to vote, i dare say, is most definitely not the answer to reducing
corruption within any political system. Therefore, the right to vote, should not be taken
away from the basis of education or the lack of it. Moreover, most government mostly
comprising high-calibre, educated elite, the fact that corruption still exist, bear testimony
that education does not guarantee honesty in elections or good governance for that matter
and should not be a yardstick in deciding who has earned their right to vote.

Finally, although everyone should have the right to vote because it is a human right, voters
should be able to make an informed decision on their vote and not just rely on their gut
feeling as to who should be in party or vote for those who promote populist policies as
elections are not just a popularity contest but who is actually effective.

In conclusion, i disagree with the stand of the question that only the educated should have
the right to vote because the fundamental flaw of the question which is what defines
education is ambiguous and alongside that fact, the right to vote is part of the Universal
human rights declaration but only with the condition that the voters do make an informed
decision, not based on their gut feeling and perceived benefits they would receive but who
is actually a good leader based on character.

Kenrick
10A3