A controversial op-ed in the conservative outlet American Thinker has reignited debates over voting rights after the author argued that suffrage should be an “earned privilege” rather than a universal right—using mocked social media posts from young Democratic voters as evidence.
Columnist Olivia Murray pointed to a since-deleted image of what appeared to be a student poll response reading, “I voted for the Democrats beceuse I agree with a lot of there Phylosophy,” highlighting its grammatical errors as proof that some voters lack basic civic competence. “If you don’t know the difference between there, their, and they’re at 18 years old, you can’t possibly be trusted with something as sacred as a vote,” she wrote.
Literacy Tests and the 19th Amendment
Murray doubled down by advocating for literacy tests—banned under the 1965 Voting Rights Act—and even suggested repealing women’s suffrage, claiming female voters are disproportionately swayed by “baby murder” (abortion rights). “Women as a whole have no business participating in politics,” she asserted, despite identifying as a woman herself.
The piece also mocked students who cited minimum wage increases as a reason for supporting Democrats, arguing that anyone unaware the federal minimum wage already exists “shouldn’t be permitted to vote.”
Backlash and Broader Implications
While Murray framed her argument as protecting democratic seriousness, critics quickly noted its echoes of historical voter suppression tactics. Literacy tests were notoriously used to disenfranchise Black voters pre-1965, and her dismissal of young progressives’ priorities—from economic policy to reproductive rights—reflects deepening generational and ideological divides.
The article’s combative tone, including phrases like “close your damn legs” to abortion-rights supporters, underscores the polarization surrounding voting access ahead of the 2026 midterms. Whether her call to treat voting as a “privilege” gains traction or becomes a lightning rod remains to be seen, but it’s already stoking fierce debate about who gets to shape democracy’s future.
Source: www.americanthinker.com — https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/11/leftist-students-voted-for-democrats-because-they-like-there-phylosophy/