The term “idiot,” originating from ancient Greece, referred to individuals focused solely on private life, showing no interest in politics or public matters, and thus considered ignorant.
In modern democratic countries, the presence of “idiots” — those indifferent to public life and politics yet occasionally exercising their civic rights in elections — poses a unique challenge. This phenomenon has sparked debates about the wisdom of letting uninformed individuals influence future decisions through voting.
A notable instance of attempting to tackle this issue occurred in Bulgaria in 2016, where electoral law amendments introduced a rule disenfranchising citizens who fail to vote in two consecutive elections of the same type. These individuals are removed from voter rolls but can regain their voting rights by applying for re-enlistment, a measure aimed at encouraging civic engagement and, implicitly, weeding out the uninterested or uninformed.
However, this solution doesn’t address the core issue of uninformed voters participating in elections. A proposal by Jan Kubalcík, leader of the Czech Conservative Party, suggests an innovative approach: requiring citizens to pass a basic knowledge test before voting.
This test, comprising ten questions randomly selected by a computer from a thousand, aims to exclude those lacking fundamental understanding of political and general knowledge from decision-making processes. Critics argue this method discriminates against those who are ignorant, raising questions about the fairness and practicality of such measures.
Despite the Conservative Party’s long-standing presence in Czech politics, it has yet to achieve significant legislative influence, and Kubalcík acknowledges the slim chances of his proposal being adopted.
This ongoing dilemma highlights the struggle between ensuring an informed electorate and preserving inclusive democratic principles, leaving societies to ponder whether they are indeed “doomed to idiots” in the realm of electoral participation.
