I am appalled. I was just told that voting is a privilege, not a right.

[Live and Learn]

Right here on DU. This mentality explains the erosion of voting rights. Some here only want those that vote like them to be able to vote at all.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1522587

[Le Taz Hot]

1. There are plenty of people on this board who would gladly

accept slavery knowing full well that they would be the slaves. They're like people who have been in prison for so long they become institutionalized and can't function any other way.

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

2. What the hell is happening to this website?

We have been overrun by libertarians and "screw you, I've got mine" types.

[dchill]

61. I think you just answered your own question.

[Art_from_Ark]

3. The late Antonin Scalia also believed that

He maintained that there was nothing in the Constitution about a "right to vote", even though there are several amendments dealing specifically with voting rights.

[djean111]

4. There are, of course, those here who would rather people did not vote at all, if they won't vote

for Hillary. I think, this time, they will get their wish - big time.

[Spacedog1973]

5. You clearly

'misread' the comment and took it out of context

[Live and Learn]

9. Really? Perhaps you can clarify this for me:

Voting is a privilege

[H2O Man]

6. Recommended.

Voting is both a right and responsibility.

[mmonk]

8. +1

[Human101948]

27. Apparently a responsibility not taken seriously by about half the population...

Voter turnout in the United States presidential elections

1984 173,995 92,655 53.3%
1988 181,956 91,587 50.3%
1992 189,493 104,600 55.2%
1996 196,789 96,390 49.0%
2000 209,787 105,594 50.3%
2004 219,553 122,349 55.7%
2008 229,945 131,407 57.1%
2012 235,248 129,235 54.9%

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_turnout_in_the_United_States_presidential_elections

[H2O Man]

29. I agree.

That's shameful.

[randr]

7. Voting is a right, a privilege, a duty, and IMHO

should carry a fine if not exercised.

[Live and Learn]

57. Nope, can't be a right and a privilege. nt

[yardwork]

10. That's not what the post says. This is dishonest.

[H2O Man]

12. Respectfully disagree.

I've gone back and re-read it twice. I am unable to identify in way in which the OP could be viewed as misrepresenting what that post said.

[yardwork]

19. Where does the post say anything about voting not being a right?

[H2O Man]

22. I think we can

agree that the post identifies voting as a privilege. That is distinct from a right. Words have meanings. The OP is 100% correct.

[MH1]

32. It is a privilege to live in a country where it is a right. *

* theoretically, at least.

Does that make it better?

I agree with several others on this thread, it can be a right and still be a privilege.

I would also argue that despite theory, and what SHOULD be, it is a "right" that too often is not treated as such. There are many who SHOULD have the right to vote, but in various ways are blocked from voting. The fact that I, personally, am not in that situation - that no one blocks my right to vote - to me is a PRIVILEGE. And I show my appreciation by exercising my right at every election. (For the last couple decades or so, anyway. I was once an opinionated young person who didn't always bother to show up, like many of my peers. On the other hand, the system doesn't make it easy on someone with a less than great job, and it used to be a lot harder to get factual info about the candidates to make an informed decision.)

[Live and Learn]

48. Not at all. I have a right to live in this country. It is not a privilege.

In fact, I often feel I would like the right to live somewhere else.

[Live and Learn]

49. Exactly and thank you. Rights are not the same as privileges.

Hard to believe some can't tell the difference. Actually, it is frightening.

[Live and Learn]

13. Really? Please clarify it for me then.

Voting is a privilege just like having daddy pay for your cell phone.

[yardwork]

14. Where does it say a privilege not a right?

You are changing the meaning of the post to fit your agenda.

[Live and Learn]

17. So you think you have a right to your daddy paying for your cell phone? Please!!! nt

[UglyGreed]

15. Well I guess it is time to go

back to the days of only landowners having a right to vote.........well money does rule these days so perhaps in way we are already there.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

16. Voting in a primary is a privilege, not a right.

That's why there's closed primaries in most states.

However, the poster you are referring to didn't make that distinction.

[Live and Learn]

18. Wow, just wow.... nt

[Dr Hobbitstein]

20. Republicans aren't allowed to vote in Democratic primaries in most states.

They don't have that privilege.

Everyone has the right to vote in the general, though.

[Live and Learn]

23. You are really stretching there. nt

[Dr Hobbitstein]

26. Not at all.

Every US citizen has a right to vote in the general election. It's in the Constitution and it's many amendments.

However, the DNC and RNC are not public organizations. Voting on who will represent either party in the general election is not a right, it's a privilege based on the rules of those two private organizations. There is no provision for political parties in the Constitution or it's amendments.

Note, I am NOT defending what the poster you are talking about said. They did not make the distinction. I am making that distinction.

[Live and Learn]

34. Still stretching. nt

[Dr Hobbitstein]

40. Facts are stretching?

Sheesh.

[unc70]

35. Where in the Constitution?

While I think it should be a right, the Constitution does not grant that right. It only specifies reasons that may not preclude voting. There are many state restrictions on voting that are regularly upheld - convicted felons, voter registrations, etc.

BTW Nothing in the Constitution precludes a State from allowing non-citizens to vote in Federal elections.

Not what I prefer, but the way it is.

[Live and Learn]

37. Check the amendments. nt

[Recursion]

52. Which part of the Constitution tells political parties what the rules of their elections can be?

Personally I don't remember parties even being mentioned.

[disillusioned73]

21. What is going on..

around here??

[Doctor_J]

24. Every day the Clinton voters are bolder with their freeperish attitudes

[MineralMan]

55. Kind of a broad brush you're wielding there, I think.

Which Clinton voters, out of the millions who have voted for her. 2.5 million more than the Sanders voters, actually. Are they all "freepers?"

I doubt that very much.

[ibegurpard]

25. Hillary blinders

Will destroy us all.

[ucrdem]

28. Gotcha fail. nt

[gollygee]

30. It appears to be obvious to me, in the context of that thread, that the poster is saying

That they can vote or not, as they wish. Like they have the privilege of choosing whether or not to vote. In some countries, voting is mandatory, but not here. We have the privilege of choosing.

[Live and Learn]

38. Like having your daddy pay for your cell phone? nt

[gollygee]

39. That is making fun of the age group of the voters involved. N/t

[Live and Learn]

43. Oh, well in that case it is okay.

[gollygee]

45. It isn't nice

But it isn't what you're claiming in your OP. If your complaint is that the poster is making fun of young people, then make an OP about that. You claimed the poster is saying that voting is a privilege that can be taken away, and it appears clear based on the context of that thread that your claim is not accurate.

[Live and Learn]

56. It is either a right or a privilege. It cannot be both.

Look up the meanings. The poster claimed it was a privilege which means it is not a right.

[Orsino]

31. Mischaracterization.

"Not a right" did not appear in the referenced post.

We do indeed have the privilege of bestowing our votes on whomever we please, for whatever reasons we please, including no reason at all--but some primaries are not open to us all.

[Live and Learn]

42. Damn it, it is a right not a privilege. Privileges can be taken away.

Granted, some peoples rights have been taken away but that doesn't make it correct.

[Recursion]

33. Voting in a primary isn't remotely a right

If the parties wanted to say only people named Steve get to vote in the primaries, they can do that.

[Art_from_Ark]

41. No they can't

That's ridiculous.

The parties can only set rules for such things as party membership and registration date. They cannot prevent any otherwise qualified voter from voting. And in some states, the parties don't even get to decide those things. In Arkansas, for example, all qualified voters can vote in either primary.

[Recursion]

50. Sure they can. They don't even need to hold elections

For that matter most parties (that is, the proliferation of tiny ones) just hold a conference call.

The Democratic and Republican parties choose to use the state election apparatus for their primaries (which comes with some state oversight), but they aren't required to. And the oversight required for caucuses is tiny; in most states you just have to tell the bureau of elections when it's going to happen.

[Live and Learn]

44. Good gawd.

[Art_from_Ark]

47. I know

[Recursion]

51. What? Do you think there's a legal guarantee that a party let you vote?

Seriously?

[joshcryer]

54. What did Steve do to you?

I think that's, in theory, probably true. Would likely fall under free speech.

[Recursion]

58. If they use the state election infrastructure that comes with some regulations

So you'd have to do a caucus or run your own primary, but that's what most of the really small parties do anyways.

Steve stole my donut.

[joshcryer]

63. Yeah, they get to have the classroom adjacent to the cafeteria.

At least for caucuses anyhow, not sure how the fuck it's done for primaries (I think state funds some of that so there might be some hoops you got to get through).

Caucuses you just use a notebook.

[Hiraeth]

59. yeah, pretty much.

[Waiting For Everyman]

36. Privilege, my ass.

RIGHTS, dammit!!!!

[Jefferson23]

46. Consider the source. n/t

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

53. "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

[EndElectoral]

60. That's one poster's misguided opinion

[Live and Learn]

62. And yet, it is defended by others here. nt

[BlindTiresias]

64. Easy to understand

The Hillary supporters have drunk from the well of Authoritarianism and are intoxicated on the power it offers them*










*Illusion of power since they aren't getting shit, but they gain power for their favorite team.

[Live and Learn]

65. I wish I could disagree but I can't. nt

[bigbrother05]

66. Not just a right, it's a duty to build our country for the future

All eligible voters should pick someone they think best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of office.

[WhiteTara]

67. I say it is a responsibility and a duty. nt

[Jack Rabbit]

68. Leftofcool states his case poorly

Not withstanding the idiocy of the late Justice Scalia, citizens have the right to vote. True, no one has to exercise it. So far, he's right. However, he never should have used the word privilege and that analogy of a parent paying for a child's cell phone is simply bizarre.

If the government imposed some kind of penalty for not voting, then it would be not a right but an obligation. If the situation is that some people may vote while others are barred from the polls, then it is a privilege.