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WOW. I just participated in a forum hosted by BGSU Votes where the representative from College Republicans gave his support for suppressing voter rights for those who are “uneducated”. These types of regulations existed once within the United States... (a thread).
...and IQ tests were purposely used to prevent Black Americans from voting. Along with other measures that are now illegal (such as poll taxes), Black voters were often targeted and given an impossible to pass test in order to fulfill their right to vote.
In Mississippi, applicants were required to transcribe and interpret a section of the state constitution & write an essay on the responsibilities of citizenship.
Registration officials selected the questions and interpreted the answers, effectively choosing which applicants to pass and which to fail.
In Louisiana, Black voters were targeted and forced to take literacy tests that were purposefully meant to be confusing and almost impossible to pass. (I mean wtf is this test)
In Mississippi, this is the voter registration form used from 1955 until 1965. Obviously requiring a dangerous amount of personal information that could be used to target and harass potential voters.
I want to be clear that the rep from College Republicans did not outright call for voter IQ tests. HOWEVER the blatant ignorance it takes to suggest that only “educated voters” should be participating in elections is so misinformed.
Obviously this individual does not have the proper education himself to know about the deep history of voter suppression that has existed within our county and that his points are the same ones used by racists and bigots to segregate elections.
Take a moment to educate yourself on voter suppression and how it’s roots still effect us today. I’m going to link some helpful articles below. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.teenvogue.com/story/books-americas-voting-history/amp
Just a disclaimer: the views expressed in this thread do not directly reflect that of BGSU Votes or the BGSU College Democrats, who I was there representing.
Many thanks to BGSU Votes for providing a platform for conversation and to the BGSU College Dems for their endless support and allowing an old-timer like me to continue representing them in debates such as these. (End thread).
