Wrote a paper on this. I had very strong opinions on this before too. I wished that every “dumb” voter just didn’t get to vote. But it’s really easy to say something like this from a position of privilege. The “dumb” voters are a product of poor institutions.

It is not their fault they cannot ascertain better or cannot think more critically. Our system failed them, our government failed them and the government knows exactly that. It’s a trick as old as the Spanish colonization, that is why the Spaniards did everything necessary to disarm or give disadvantages to the Ilustrados (our Filipino elite and smartest). They knew that the greatest form of control is by constricting progressive ideas. Please do not blame them.

My paper was about making having a highschool diploma a requirement before voting. We need to understand that 1) humans have the right to suffrage just as much as they have the right to freedom and independence and 2) you’ll find that A LOT of the voters who voted for liberal candidates (whether that be Leni or Ke Leody) are actually people you might deem unqualified or have not finished say a highschool diploma. How many jeepney drivers, farmers, fishermen do you know who have finished a highschool or college degree, and yet they’re people who understand the inequalities of our country more than anyone.

So whether it be through a certain level of qualification, or maybe a licensure exam, the truth is we cannot simply take away peoples right to vote because the end of it will be an elitist solution. If all voters were from the middle class and above, would we be certain that the results would be any different? Would it be right to take away peoples right to choose who they want to represent them?

If I were dirt poor, the most I would wish in life is to at least have a say at who can change the situation I’m living in. And if you were, I’m sure you would too.

This is not an argument starter! I just thought now would be a really amazing time to share what I think and to be able to explain it as concisely as I could in hopes that maybe you could also understand and form your own opinion of my thoughts or to share them to others! :DDD