# Shopify CEO's controversial voting rights proposal $154 billion CEO advocates stripping voting rights from non-taxpayers. - **Source:** [Fortune | FORTUNE](https://brifing.si/source/769282ef-327a-4454-909a-3c7936216004) - **Published:** 2026-07-27 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/22ce97f1-33ef-4e9f-9572-036d2f688642 ## CEO's shocking proposal Shopify CEO Tobias Lütke sparked outrage by suggesting on social media that non-taxpayers should lose voting rights. His proposal inverts the 'no taxation without representation' principle, reigniting debates about democracy and wealth distribution. The comments have drawn sharp reactions across political spectrums. ## Proposal details The tiered system would give up to 5 votes to those earning over $500K, while retirees, students and low-income earners would lose voting rights entirely. Critics compare this to 19th century property-based voting systems, calling it a dangerous regression for democratic principles. ## Historical parallels Wealth-based voting isn't new - 19th century Europe and early America restricted voting to property owners. Universal suffrage movements dismantled these systems precisely because they concentrated power among the wealthy. Lütke's proposal risks undoing a century of democratic progress. ## Mounting criticism The proposal faces intense backlash for potentially concentrating political power among the wealthy. Critics note the irony that Lütke himself maintains 40% voting control at Shopify regardless of his equity stake - a similar power consolidation he now advocates for politics. ## Housing market connection The debate began during San Francisco housing crisis protests. Real estate experts note markets resemble early 1900s conditions. Yale professor Samuel Moyn describes excessive influence by older homeowners as 'oldigarchy,' proposing expanded youth voting rights as counterbalance. ## Democratic alarm bells This controversy forces reexamination of wealth-power relationships. Experts warn adoption could undermine America's democratic foundations. Beyond one CEO's opinion, the discussion touches on the future of social contracts in an era of growing wealth inequality. ## Sources covering this story - https://fortune.com/2026/07/27/shopify-ceo-voting-rights-stripping-americans-19th-century/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._