Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke faces backlash over voting eligibility comments

Tobi Lütke, co-founder and CEO of Shopify, ignited a firestorm on social media after endorsing a voting system that would link ballot access to wealth and exclude pensioners from elections.

Lütke, who has led the Ottawa-based e-commerce company since April 2008, was responding to a conversation about capitalism and a proposed tower development in San Francisco. He suggested that pensioners, once they receive guaranteed pension payments, become dependents and should lose voting rights—drawing a parallel to how minors cannot vote.

"New deal: when you get your pension deal it's locked in and guaranteed. But now you are a dependent and that means no voting, just like dependents under age. Enjoy the deal, let people with a stake in the future decide," Lütke wrote on July 25.

Another tech executive, Eric Thor, responded by proposing a tiered income-based voting system: people earning no income would receive zero votes, those earning $1–$100,000 would get one vote, scaling up to five votes for those earning $500,000 or more. On July 26, Lütke endorsed the idea: "Good system."

The posts sparked immediate criticism online. A Reddit thread on Canada's subreddit attracted over 100 comments before being removed. "A multi-billionaire endorsing extra votes for rich people, and taking away the vote from unemployed people… very convenient," one user commented. Another wrote: "So he wants a society where only the rich control everything."

Lütke doubled down on July 26, responding to criticism: "5 max. Or make it go back to 1 above a certain level, doesn't matter. Reward productive people with leverage."

As of press time, Lütke had not issued a retraction or statement. Shopify declined immediate comment.