Idiots aren't allowed to vote???

January 9, 2007 9:15am CST
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070109/od_nm/newjersey_idiot_dc State weighs cutting "idiot" from constitution PHILADELPHIA, Jan 8 (Reuters Life!) - New Jersey is to consider cutting the word 'idiot' from its constitution so that people with some mental disabilities won't be barred from voting. State Senate President Richard Codey introduced a bill on Monday that would remove language from the New Jersey constitution that was designed more than 150 years ago to prevent people suffering from mental illness or handicap from casting their vote in national, state or local elections. Codey wants to eliminate a section that says "no idiot or insane person should enjoy the right of suffrage" and substitute with a reference to "a person who has been adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting." Codey, a Democrat who was previously acting governor of New Jersey, said in a statement the term "idiot" is "outdated, vague, offensive to many and may be subject to misinterpretation."He said individuals with cognitive or emotional disabilities may be capable of making decisions in a voting booth, and those people should not be discriminated against. "This is another big step toward removing the stigma of mental illness," Codey said. The proposed changes will be included in a constitutional amendment which voters will be asked to approve in a statewide ballot in November. It must first be cleared by the state legislature. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I had no idea "idiots" were not allowed to vote. Well there goes my theory of how Bush won.:-{ Questions: What are your opinions on this, should a person not be allowed to vote because of their mentality? Is this fair?
2 people like this
4 responses
• Philippines
27 Jan 07
I think it depends on the person, if the psychiatrist says that a person is not really capable of thinking then he/she should not be allowed to vote. My reason for this is that, someone might manipulate the persons decision regarding his choices since he/she is not capable of thinking clearly.
@freesoul (3021)
• Egypt
27 Jan 07
I think there should be no discrimination between those who are legally labeled as idiots and all other idiots who are allowed to vote! .. Anyway what difference will it make if a few more idiots gave their vote? lol
1 person likes this
@irisheyes (4370)
• United States
26 Jan 07
If an idiot pays taxes, that idiot should have a vote and apparently any idiot whose father was president can get to be president also. That's how I think it works. LOL
1 person likes this
• United States
26 Jan 07
that is funny
1 person likes this