If there is a right to vote, is there also a duty not to vote?

Question

Americans have a right to vote. It is our option, we can do it or not. It is also ARGUABLE that we have somewhat of a "duty" to become educated about candidates and issues and then to vote based upon our learning. Lets say, for sake of argument, that we do have such a duty. On a scale of 1-10 where 10 is a REALLY important duty, lets call it a 6.

Now lets also say, for sake of argument, that I did NOT become educated about candidates and issues. I should have, but I didn't. At the time of voting, I realized that my understanding of the candidates and issues is woefully inadequate. Three questions:

1) Do I now have a duty to NOT vote until such time that I endeavor to acquire at least some education on the subject?

2) If I do have such a duty, is it greater or less than the original duty to vote?

3) If every American made a promise to themselves to vote only if educated about candidates and issues, would our country look much different than it is today?

Answer 1

If there were a date certain that both parties would not accept the votes of unlearned citizens, would that be an acceptable resolution to the uninformed voter casting ballots.?

I can see where this is going so let me put an end to your suffering about whether voters are capable of making decisions on Leadership. In the early years of our Constitution, many people voted while they could not write their names nor read the ballot. The Constitution gives one man/woman/g*y/white/black./minority each one vote with no precondition as to knowledge or ability, only that each would be allocated one vote one voice in choosing their leaders. That was intended to be true Democracy..If we insist that only the learned amongst us should vote, then we would not have a Democracy, we would have Oligarchy. The wonderful thing about our system is that even when it is flawed, it is peaceful.

Answer 2

I only wish there was a duty not to vote.

I work with developmentally disabled adults that are unable to live alone, care for themselves  or even ride the bus, yet they vote.  

Of course, it's their caregivers who are getting multiple votes.

I think that stinks.

Personally I don't vote if I don't know about the people running or the issue.