Should a Requirement to Vote be Ownership of Property?

Just moving this into it's own thread.

Admin Edit: I made this a poll.

In the other thread, a concern was raised about renters or people who can't afford land. I personally think that renters should be allowed to vote, but not people on welfare or other government support. Giving voting rights to owners only would make it hard for military families, or other people who move constantly because of responsibilities and therefore commonly rent houses instead of buying.

That is why I said either 4 years of military service or land ownership.

Oops, missed that!
In that case, yes, I think it would be wise to restrict voting on those conditions.

YoungStonewall wrote:That is why I said either 4 years of military service or land ownership.

Why four years?

So, Stonewall, I'm sorry if I missed something... but if you're saying that you think only those who own land (or served in the military) should be given the honor and privilege of voting, how can you then also say that you believe it is proper for women to vote? If women are indeed supposed to be living either under their father's authority or under their husband's authority, and if the Scriptural ideal for a woman is that she NOT be living on her own, with a career (although I do think that some women are called to do that, so I'm not bashing women who have careers at all!) -- then how is a woman ever supposed to earn the honor and privilege of voting? I am against the ideas, generally, that women should be home-owners and that women should serve in the military. I don't think I'm following your line of reasoning, so please help me understand.

In accordance with the concept of "one flesh" any woman married to a man who owns land would of course be allowed to vote.

And any child male or female still listed as a dependant of a man who owns land would also be allowed to vote.

YoungStonewall wrote:In accordance with the concept of "one flesh" any woman married to a man who owns land would of course be allowed to vote.

And any child male or female still listed as a dependant of a man who owns land would also be allowed to vote.

So, in your opinion, what is the purpose of having land ownership a requirement?

To keep those who are not responsible enough to own a piece of land, from influencing the course of our nation.

YoungStonewall wrote:To keep those who are not responsible enough to own a piece of land, from influencing the course of our nation.

Then why would you allow those that aren't, for whatever reason, living on their own (like children over 18) to vote? Sneaking suspicion that it is because you live at home and want to still vote, not a good reason in my opinion.

Also, owning property doesn't exactly mean resonsibility. You can pull of several years of not being responsible while still owning property before it catches up with you.

No actually I own my own home.

Yah, in my opinion, property ownership is not an effective way to judge someone's character. What are some other criteria we could use to better evaluate someone as fit to vote?

I didnt say it had anthing to do with judging character, just demonstrating some level of personal responability.

Also by owning property, a someone has more at stake in decisions made by elected officials.

Responsibility is a character quality.

YoungStonewall wrote:I didnt say it had anthing to do with judging character, just demonstrating some level of personal responability.

Also by owning property, a someone has more at stake in decisions made by elected officials.

This is the reason that I would hold for ownership being the requirement, which would disqualify children. Also, they pay the taxes that the officials are spending.


Touché on the living on your own thing. I haven't really kept up I guess.

I don't care either way. If you do get around to changing this law, warn me ahead of time. I'll quickly go out and buy three square feet of land from my parents. I might even put a little sign on it that says "Mitchell's land". I can pay a small percentage of my parent's taxes and get a formal document for ownership proof. I have been given a right and will fight for it.