marymcl, cas et al:

Re your interest in producing a competent electorate. I recommend to you an old novel by Nevil Shute, IN THE WET. In it he envisions a system of expanded franchise. All citizens begin with one vote and can earn (if I recall correctly…it’s probably 40 years since I read it) as many as six or seven more. Things that earned you additional votes included military service, advanced education, living abroad for a period of years, running/owning a successful business, being married for a substantial period and raising children. And there was a provision for a vote being awarded as recognition for extraordinary service to the nation. It struck me as eminently good sense at the time.