The world is a pretty complex place, what with international politics, economics and problems like global warming. Sometimes it baffles me that people who couldn’t point to Iraq on a map are allowed to vote, it’s scary. Some people vote for no other reason than that their candidate opposes abortion, not even considering the impact of all others decisions that person might make. Most people could simply never have even a vague understanding of what is going on, because they lack the underlying skills/knowledge.
It has happened two times that acquaintances of mine have voted and then regretted their decision after I extensively explained the implications of their vote.
There’s a scene in The West Wing where Bartlett exasperatedly asks how we can possibly ask people to vote when he himself barely understands the issues he is dealing with. I guess democracy just really is the worst system except for all the others.
ETA I do support a rigorous test before being allowed to vote. You’d be tested by a quick session of questions before you can enter the booth. You must demonstrate minimal understanding of all issues before you can vote.