I'm sure there is a formal term for this concept, but I don't know it. In the military service thread Tear suggested that people should have to do some sort of military or civil service in order to earn the right to vote, and I was wondering how defensible that viewpoint is.

Afaik, all of us live in countries where almost all citizens over the age of 18 are allowed to vote. Conditions generally only come up in conditions for citizenship, which may vary from country to country.

My gut feeling is that any adult who is a citizen in a country should be allowed to vote in that country, and that military or civil service should not be a requirement for citizenship as long as that person pays his taxes and abides by the laws of his society. I don't understand why those other specific forms of service would be more important for citizenship.

What are your thoughts, on the right to vote and on criteria for citizenship?