Can only a fully Informed Electorate Vote Responsibly?

Only a fully informed electorate can vote responsibly. Describe a specific situation in which a less than fully informed electorate might vote responsibly. Discuss what you think determines how much information is enough to allow for responsible voting. One of the cornerstones of democracy is the freedom of citizens to access information. In particular, a free press and internet allows the people to learn about their representatives and workings of the government. In contrast, closed societies highly regulate information in the attempt to prevent growth of opposition movements and maintain the status quo. Democracies trust that people who have broad information will make electoral decisions that make sense for the country. However, the reality is that not all voters go to the poll after having researched the issues and candidates; many vote on the basis of superficial factors, such as appearance and name recognition. Thus, only a fully informed electorate can vote responsibly. In democracies, the people do not have a direct say in policy/government decisions. They must elect representatives who make these decisions for them. During election time, an engaged citizen will take time to learn about the candidates via newspaper, internet and other conduits of information. He will evaluate whether the candidate's position and past record are align with the country's and his own interests. This type of citizen goes to the poll well-informed and can make responsible choices. However, most people vote without knowing much about the candidates and issues; they have, perhaps, been influenced by soundbites or told by a friend about what decision to make. He really does not have an idea which candidate or issue would best represent his needs. It is unrealistic, however, to obligate the electorate to do their due diligence before going to the polls. After all, people come from different educational and family backgrounds. Some may be used to reading the paper on a daily basis and others are barely literate. All these citizens, however, have a right to vote and be represented. Just the act of going to the polls on election date might be thought of as being a good citizen per se and therefore, voting responsibly. In an ideal world, citizens of democracies would be well-informed about the issues and candidates at the voting polls. By taking time to investigate politics from reliable sources and different points of views, citizens would arguably be less susceptible to campaign spending and special interests. On the other hand, those who are not informed are more likely to make decisions based on a 1-minute ad seen on TV. Indeed, the educational system could play a big role in training students to analyze information and value the importance of being a fully-informed citizen.