An Examination of Children’s Suffrage:

In Relation to the Critique against Epistocracy

Abstract

Democrats reject epistocracy, which distributes political influence unequally according to knowledge and ability, and favor universal suffrage, which distributes political influence equally. On the other hand, most democrats accept limiting suffrage to adults because children lack the necessary skills to be voters and representatives.

  This paper argues that democrats are inconsistent in denying children’s suffrage based on ability while criticizing the unequal distribution of political influence based on ability in epistocracy. Since there can be no justification for depriving children of suffrage other than ability, democrats must choose one of two paths. The first is to support genuine universal suffrage, including for children. The other is to support universal suffrage for adults only, accepting that this is a departure from the democratic ideal. This article further shows that choosing the former and granting suffrage to children would not significantly burden democrats and points out the difficulties in choosing the latter and supporting universal adult suffrage.