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- Title
On Harwood’s Plural Voting System.
- Authors
Fudge, Robert; Quinn, Carol
- Abstract
This article discusses on Robin Hardwood's plural voting system. In more votes for Ph.D's, Hardwood defends a version of John Stuart Mill's plural voting system, according to which the number of votes any individual receives should be based on his attained level of education. Hardwood modifies Mill's system in two ways: first, he adds a compulsory vote, and then he rejects Mill's provision that denies voting privileges to the illiterate and innumerate. Although Hardwood's project is well-intended, it would not only fail to accomplish its stated goals, but would bring about a number of unintended, negative consequences. The main features of Hardwood's system include the following: everyone receives a minimum of one vote; voting is compulsory; everyone has the opportunity to gain more voting power through universal, free education; there is a limit to the number of votes that a person can have. The justification for this system is that the motivation to gain more political power would lead to an overall better-educated populace, which in turn would lead to the election of more capable politicians and better governing, since voters would possess a greater capacity and desire to understand political issues.
- Subjects
PLURAL voting; HARDWOOD, Robin; SUFFRAGE; POLITICAL participation; VOTING; MILL, John Stuart, 1806-1873
- Publication
Journal of Social Philosophy, 2001, Vol 32, Issue 4, p500
- ISSN
0047-2786
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/0047-2786.00110