New Mexicans to decide if 'idiots,' 'insane' have right to vote

KKOB-TV ^ | 10/2/02 | KOB-TV Staff

[elkfersupper]

With less than five weeks until the general election, many New Mexicans may be surprised to learn that among the candidates, bond issues and constitutional amendments on this year's unusually long ballot, they will also be deciding whether to allow "idiots" and "insane persons" the right to vote.

That's right. Idiots currently can not vote in New Mexico under Constitutional Amendment 7, Section 1.

Proposed Amendment 2 on the November 5th ballot would change that. The amendment would alter the current wording on voter qualifications, which now reads, "except idiots, insane persons and persons convicted of a felonious or infamous crime."

If approved, the amendment would scratch out references to "idiots" and "insane persons," which may have been considered reasonable when the state's constitution was written in 1912, but is considered offensive and meaningless by many people today.

Some argue the terms are overly general and very much up to a person's own opinion. In fact, it's probably safe to say several of New Mexico's own politicians have been called "idiots" at various times, yet they've always enjoyed their right to vote.

However, the amendment is not without opposition. Some argue that removing the archaic terms "idiots" and "insane persons" without replacing them with more accurate language to reflect contemporary understanding of mental health may be too sweeping a change. They ask whether some mentally unstable individuals should maintain their right to vote.

Proposed Amendment 2 would also update wording regarding the age requirement to vote in New Mexico.

Article 7, Section 1 still states the voting age in the state as 21. The 26th Amendment of the U.S. constitution established the right of anyone over the age of 18 to vote, overruling the state's constitutional wording.

The proposed change would have no real effect, but would simply bring the statement in line with federal requirements.

[Uncle Miltie]

"New Mexicans to decide if 'idiots,' 'insane' have right to vote"

We know the Al-Quaedacrats voted for Hillary in New York, so why not?

[RipSawyer]

Indeed. One of the definitions of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly, hoping for a different result.


That's odd, I have always thought that insanity was a legal term indicating the inability to distinguish right from wrong and behave accordingly. Doesn't your definition more properly apply to plain old "crazy"?

[elkfersupper]

Nope. My hunting buddies and I are "crazy", not "insane".

[SauronOfMordor]

If approved, the amendment would scratch out references to "idiots" and "insane persons," which may have been considered reasonable when the state's constitution was written in 1912, but is considered offensive and meaningless by many people today.

In clinical usage, the term "idiot" has a precise meaning: somebody with a measured IQ under 40, ie severely retarded. (the clinical definition of moron is IQ 40-60 and imbecile, IQ 60-80).

But of course the imbecile who wrote the article wouldn't know that...

[Thud]

They're not going to let Congressmen vote?

[DonQ]

In most states not only can idiots vote but they seem to hold most of the elective offices.

[SouthernFreebird]

Back to DU for U.

Don't ever say that sh*t to me again, I don't deserve it and I consider it very offensive to accuse me of that because of one friggin post!

This thread was joking and quayle is one of those people who get joked about, being republican does'nt mean I can't joke or even, disagree with others of the GOP.

[Dimensio]

This thread was joking and quayle is one of those people who get joked about, being republican does'nt mean I can't joke or even, disagree with others of the GOP.

Actually, according to a few FReepers around here, being a Republican requires strict adherence to a specific set of values and beliefs with absolutely no deviation or question.

[truth defector]

Isn't megalomania insanity? Well, that would mean Hitlery wouldn't be able to vote for herself if she were a resident of NM. Same for the Big Creep Sugar Bubba, I suppose. Funny I believe that puts them on the same list with the likes of Saddam, Stalin, Hitler, Lenin ...sad. When only the dead are allowed to vote ...

[SouthernFreebird]

There's a word for them, but I don't think its Republican.

[HiTech RedNeck]

They won't let idiots vote because the drool spoils the ballots.

[patriciaruth]

The Democrats will get absentee ballots for every drooler and hallucinator under their care in nursing homes, and fill them out and send them in.

Here's a newspaper report from the 2000 Election.

TRENTON, N.J. (Reuters) - In a post-election fracas to rival the presidential battle in Florida, New Jersey Republican Dick Zimmer on Thursday demanded a recount in a U.S. House of Representatives election where he trails Democratic incumbent Rush Holt by fewer than 200 votes. Zimmer issued his call for a recount a day after he charged Democrats with voting irregularities for allegedly distributing absentee ballots to patients at a psychiatric hospital in hopes of aiding Holt's re-election to the House. The New York Times reported that the family of one hospitalized schizophrenic woman who believes she gets shampoo tips from God were outraged to learn she had voted for Holt. "I made up my own mind,'' the woman, Doris Mount, told the Times. "I usually vote Republican, but I admit I was a ticket splitter on this one.''

[patriciaruth]

You think Quayle is an idiot, but I think anyone who thinks Quayle is an idiot has been brainwashed by the media.

[chnsmok]

Let me see, the New Jersey court says that the law is clear that before 51 days a candidate can be substituted but after 51 days the law is silent, so it is okay to make up whatever. Insane? Feeble-minded? If they can be judges, why can't they vote?

[Jaidyn]

Don't be so hard on yourself. It's everywhere. I am very concerned about the future of the Republic. The people in my household are forced to think. I'm not so sure about everyone else'
I don't run across many thinkers in my daily life. That is why I seek like-minded people on conservative forums. Your post reminded me of what happened to me at work yesterday. I print political articles of interest for an older gentleman who otherwise doesn't have access to magazines and newspapers and especially the internet. He is very interested in politics but doesn't have the money to keep up with subscriptions. I have never met this person but his daughter told me he likes to read my letters to the editor in our local paper so I started saving articles for him and taking them to her at work to deliver to her father. He and his daughter are grateful to me and I enjoy spreading the word. Yesterday, I accidently dropped my wallet in the trash can and took the lid off to retrieve it. Low and behold were several articles I had laid on the table with graphics poking fun at me and told me to 'Get a life' among the nicer epithets. The person who did this is the administrator in the office and should have known better since she is also PR. It amazed me that she even cares what anyone does outside her realm but what amazes me more is that she demonstrated a blatant attempt at stifling political knowledge. It is she who should get a life, or in the least, let us live ours as we see fit.

[ican'tbelieveit]

I actually think the Republicans in NM are starting to figure out how to attract this idiot vote (I was a 32yr, 3rd generation NM resident until this past spring). Notice the last name of the (R) candidate....SANCHEZ.

I do have to say I loved Johnson's time in office. You don't have to agree with all he stands for, but he was a master at infuriating the dems.

[Madcelt]

I see two words in that states future right now....Tamminy Hall!..I know the spellings incorrect but I think you get my meaning. The record of every mental institution in the state will be registered to one party. Wanna guess which one?

[sweetliberty]

"Idiots currently can not vote in New Mexico under Constitutional Amendment 7, Section 1."

So who's voting for democrats??

[sweetliberty]

"but is considered offensive and meaningless by many people today"

And just who is it offending pray tell? The idiots and insane people in question? A true idiot is unlikely to have the IQ to read and what are the chances that insane people pass the time reading obscure pages in law books? Give me a break! The truth is that no one is being offended. The Rats are just trying to widen their base. Of course, I'm guessing that the idiots and insane people have been voting all along. Personally, I think a person should have to test with an IQ of at least 90 to be able to vote in the first place. But then of course, the Rat party would become obsolete, so they'd never stand for that.