Compulsory voting

[Amnesiac]

What do you guys think of compulsory (mandatory) voting? I think the United States should adopt such a policy, so the will of the people is more accurately represented, like it is in Australia. It's always disappointing to see elections sway one way or another simply because people "aren't interested in politics".

[Perseus]

Someone shouldn't have to vote if they don't want to. I, probably, won't be voting because I have no interest in politics.

EDIT: Actually, let me take that back(the last sentence). If there's some dumbass running for President and they get past the delegate stage or whatever, I will vote to make sure they won't come into to power.

[Church]

If u force them they may just vote for whoever and the representation may not be what people really want.

[Amnesiac]

Wouldn't you guys agree that, in a democratic society, that voting is important and that everyone should? Government needs to be based fully on the will of the people, not just the ones who took the effort to go and vote.

[Perseus]

Wouldn't you guys agree that, in a democratic society, that voting is important and that everyone should? Government needs to be based fully on the will of the people, not just the ones who took the effort to go and vote.

I agree it is important, but someone shouldn't be forced to vote. I'm trying to think of what that reminds me of, but I can't put my finger to it.

[huginnmuninn]

Wouldn't you guys agree that, in a democratic society, that voting is important and that everyone should? Government needs to be based fully on the will of the people, not just the ones who took the effort to go and vote.

if the people arent voting its probably because they arent interested in politics if they arent interested in politics then they probably dont know whos running for what or what they stand for so even if they were made to vote it wouldnt be the will of the people it would just be a random choosing between candidates

[Amnesiac]

if the people arent voting its probably because they arent interested in politics if they arent interested in politics then they probably dont know whos running for what or what they stand for so even if they were made to vote it wouldnt be the will of the people it would just be a random choosing between candidates

Don't you think mandatory voting would actually encourage people to become involved and educated in politics?

I agree it is important, but someone shouldn't be forced to vote. I'm trying to think of what that reminds me of, but I can't put my finger to it.

Well, in Australia I believe the fine for not voting is $20. It's pretty much a choice between voting and the hassle of not voting.

[Perseus]

Well, in Australia I believe the fine for not voting is $20. It's pretty much a choice between voting and the hassle of not voting.

But that is ridiculous. You shouldn't have to vote if you don't want to. I find that outrageous that Australia fines people for not voting.

[Amnesiac]

But that is ridiculous. You shouldn't have to vote if you don't want to. I find that outrageous that Australia fines people for not voting.

It's the only way they keep their 95% turnout rate. Australia has the highest voter turnout rate for non-corrupted democracies. It does seem to work, Australians are usually happy with the leaders they elect.

[huginnmuninn]

Don't you think mandatory voting would actually encourage people to become involved and educated in politics?

it could make people pay more attention but more than likely considering how lazy most americans are they would just do what some people do now which is just go to a voting booth and pick a name that they see that they like or something.

and also people signing up to vote is what puts a person up for the chance of jury duty so it could end badly when someone who doesnt even want to vote has to go to jury duty. it would ruin our justice system more than it already is ruined because people wouldnt pay attention to the facts they would just be trying to get it over with (which is what some people do now but still it would get worse) so more innocent people would be sent to jail

[Amnesiac]

it could make people pay more attention but more than likely considering how lazy most americans are they would just do what some people do now which is just go to a voting booth and pick a name that they see that they like or something.

That's not a fair generalization, calling most Americans that lazy. There are plenty of politically minded people who are simply too lazy to go out and vote, I doubt any educated person would just "pick a name".

and also people signing up to vote is what puts a person up for the chance of jury duty so it could end badly when someone who doesnt even want to vote has to go to jury duty. it would ruin our justice system more than it already is ruined because people wouldnt pay attention to the facts they would just be trying to get it over with (which is what some people do now but still it would get worse) so more innocent people would be sent to jail

I'm sure a compromise could be worked out that would eliminate the connection between jury duty and voting. Besides, isn't mandatory jury duty a reason to support mandatory voting? It shows that people aren't so lazy that they'd not pay attention to a case. Voting takes less effort than jury duty.

[huginnmuninn]

That's not a fair generalization, calling most Americans that lazy. There are plenty of politically minded people who are simply too lazy to go out and vote, I doubt any educated person would just "pick a name".



I'm sure a compromise could be worked out that would eliminate the connection between jury duty and voting. Besides, isn't mandatory jury duty a reason to support mandatory voting? It shows that people aren't so lazy that they'd not pay attention to a case. Voting takes less effort than jury duty.

i bet if you ask a lot of people that they would say that they either picked a person because he was republican/democrat or that the candidates name was the last name the person saw or heard

no manditory jury duty would destroy the whole point of juries it would be better to just have the judges

[Amnesiac]

i bet if you ask a lot of people that they would say that they either picked a person because he was republican/democrat or that the candidates name was the last name the person saw or heard

no manditory jury duty would destroy the whole point of juries it would be better to just have the judges

That's what people do anyway. Mandatory voting could be used as an opportunity to educate citizens about the parties and how to vote.

Also, jury duty is already mandatory, and there haven't been problems with that — save for the occasional person skipping.

[jason93]

Australia has more than two political party elected as well.

[Sage]

If u force them they may just vote for whoever and the representation may not be what people really want.

I agree, this would just add a ton of "i-don't-give-a-flying-fuck" votes, even though that might give some third party candidates a chance (tee-hee). Yes, I do feel that everyone should vote, but they should all vote because they care about the direction and future of their country- not because it was demanded of them. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.

Besides, if voting is compulsory, then what're the consequences for not doing it? Also,
non-corrupted democracies
http://chatroulettegifs.com/black_guys_laughing.gif

[jason93]

I agree, this would just add a ton of "i-don't-give-a-flying-fuck" votes, even though that might give some third party candidates a chance (tee-hee). Yes, I do feel that everyone should vote, but they should all vote because they care about the direction and future of their country- not because it was demanded of them. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.

Besides, if voting is compulsory, then what're the consequences for not doing it? Also,

http://chatroulettegifs.com/black_guys_laughing.gifIt is only compulsory to turn up and get your name marked off and be handed ballot papers in Australia, what a person does with the ballot paper is their business as long as they end up in the ballot box (cant walk out with them).

Some people put in blank ballot papers, but the vast majority do not vote informal.

[Nexus]

Then it becomes a thoughtless chore to some. Unless you can also mandate that voters are knowledgeable on what they're voting for, I don't see it working.

I definitely agree that we should encourage people to vote, especially the younger generations. During the '08 election, I was only 14, and it bummed me out that I couldn't vote given my interest in politics at the time.

[jason93]

Most people in Australia consider it a NATIONAL DUTY, a right that people died to allow us to have.

Being lazy is no excuse for not voting.

[Peace God]

Believe or not... not voting is still a statement and a statement that every american should have the right to make. Dont get me wrong voting is very important and i vote myself but imo it is less democratic to take someones right to abstain from voting.

[Sage]

Believe or not... not voting is still a statement and a statement that every american should have the right to make. Dont get me wrong voting is very important and i vote myself but imo it is less democratic to take someones right to abstain from voting.

Definitely. There have been many elections where all the candidates have sucked, regardless of your own political ideology. Last election in the USA, for instance, I think the Democrats could've brought forth a better candidate than Obama, and I also think the Republicans could've brought forth a far better VP candidate than Palin. John McCain, as far as Republicans go, I don't actually have that much of a problem with. He seems reasonable enough.

[jason93]

Believe or not... not voting is still a statement and a statement that every american should have the right to make. Dont get me wrong voting is very important and i vote myself but imo it is less democratic to take someones right to abstain from voting.

I think it would be more of a statement for people to turn up to the polling place and put blank ballot paper in the ballot box. It would be a statement when they start counting and find all these blank ones.

But I guess that not an option in some places in the United States where so many different methods are use for voting.

In Australia, federal election system is uniform across the nation no matter what State you live. Only difference is the candidates in each district and the candidates on the State Senate ballot paper.

The problem with a lot of people is they don't vote not as a political statement but because they lazy and cant be bother taking a few minutes.

Another problem with the United States is the election being held on a TUESDAY, who thought of that idea? What a silly day to have an election when everyone is working!

In Australia all election are held on a SATURDAY which is a weekend and for those people who cannot vote on Saturday for various reason can vote early for a number of weeks before.

[The Dark Lord]

I support compolsory voting, in the UK the turnout hasn't been above 70% since Thatcher. Austrlia, apart from their fucked up voting system, is one of the world leading democracies and the UK could learn a lot.

[karl]

I agree we should vote, but if anyone 'forced' me then I would deposit a blank paper

[The Dark Lord]

I agree we should vote, but if anyone 'forced' me then I would deposit a blank paper

I think a way to get round that would be to add a "No Vote" box to tick, instead of being forced to select one of the candidates

[Camazotz]

I think a way to get round that would be to add a "No Vote" box to tick, instead of being forced to select one of the candidates

Doesn't that defeat the purpose of mandatory voting?

I think we have a responsibility to vote, but I do not think it should be forced upon the people to educate themselves and make an effort to vote. Voting is a right, and we have the choice to not exercise this right.

[Jess]

no, if someone doesn't want to vote, they don't have to. we can't just force people to vote :/

[Whisper]

you dont fix the voting problem by making it law and punishing them if they don't
thats just treating the symptom, in a horrible fashion i might add, the back lash would be worse then just leaving it be.

If you want a higher voter turn out you need to engage the public more
you need to stir up political activism

[Atonement]

I competely disagree with this idea. For people like me, and many people I know, if we don't support a candidate, we wouldn't vote for them. So, if they called a mandatory voting for allregistered citizens, they would have to have a category of "neither" for candidates.

That other category,"neither", is people's choice when they do not vote at all. So, why should it matter?

[Sith Lord 13]

Wouldn't you guys agree that, in a democratic society, that voting is important and that everyone should? Government needs to be based fully on the will of the people, not just the ones who took the effort to go and vote.

It should be based on the will of those willing to participate.

Don't you think mandatory voting would actually encourage people to become involved and educated in politics?

Not at all, especially not in America.

That's not a fair generalization, calling most Americans that lazy. There are plenty of politically minded people who are simply too lazy to go out and vote, I doubt any educated person would just "pick a name".

I doubt that. People would pick a name just to spite the fact that they were being forced to vote.

That's what people do anyway. Mandatory voting could be used as an opportunity to educate citizens about the parties and how to vote.

How? All mandatory voting does is make people show up.

I agree, this would just add a ton of "i-don't-give-a-flying-fuck" votes, even though that might give some third party candidates a chance (tee-hee). Yes, I do feel that everyone should vote, but they should all vote because they care about the direction and future of their country- not because it was demanded of them. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.

This.

you dont fix the voting problem by making it law and punishing them if they don't
thats just treating the symptom, in a horrible fashion i might add, the back lash would be worse then just leaving it be.

If you want a higher voter turn out you need to engage the public more
you need to stir up political activism

And this.



Not voting is as valid a political statement as voting.

[Amnesiac]

It should be based on the will of those willing to participate.

I believe it's our responsibility as members of a democratic society to participate in elections. Besides, when I said "compulsory", I didn't imply that the fine (fee?) for not voting had to be anything even remotely expensive. People should be strongly encouraged to vote, even if it means casting a blank ballot.

Not at all, especially not in America.

Americans seem to be very political people, why don't you think they'd be encouraged to participate in politics?

I doubt that. People would pick a name just to spite the fact that they were being forced to vote.

How? All mandatory voting does is make people show up.

I don't mind if people vote with blank ballots. As long as they're learning about the voting system and become interested, that's a good thing.

I take this stance on mandatory voting from my grandmother, who lives in Australia, who argues that all people should make their voice heard in a democratic society, even if they don't want to have a voice.[/QUOTE]

[Sith Lord 13]

I believe it's our responsibility as members of a democratic society to participate in elections. Besides, when I said "compulsory", I didn't imply that the fine (fee?) for not voting had to be anything even remotely expensive. People should be strongly encouraged to vote, even if it means casting a blank ballot.

The point is, if a person isn't gonna get out there on their own to vote, they're not gonna make a properly informed decision.

Americans seem to be very political people, why don't you think they'd be encouraged to participate in politics?

Encouraged, yes, but mandating it is crossing the line.

I don't mind if people vote with blank ballots. As long as they're learning about the voting system and become interested, that's a good thing.

Where in the idea of mandatory voting is their learning? All mandatory voting does is make you show up.

I take this stance on mandatory voting from my grandmother, who lives in Australia, who argues that all people should make their voice heard in a democratic society, even if they don't want to have a voice.

But not speaking is heard just as loudly as the loudest shout. It comes down to two things, in my opinion. 1) Does the government have the right to say a given political belief is invalid? For an anarchist, casting any ballot, even a blank one, could be anathema. Same for one who feels that someone other than the people controls the outcome. They don't wish to participate in the "fraud" of voting. 2) If someone doesn't want to contribute to politics, who are you to force them? They have the right to not participate. I see voting as a right, not a responsibility. I see it the same way I see the right to remain silent. I'm all for exercising it if it serves an appropriate purpose. But just like it would be better for society if guilty criminals choose not to remain silent, it might be better for society if those who were uninformed and uninterested in politics did not cast a vote.

[Amnesiac]

But not speaking is heard just as loudly as the loudest shout. It comes down to two things, in my opinion. 1) Does the government have the right to say a given political belief is invalid? For an anarchist, casting any ballot, even a blank one, could be anathema. Same for one who feels that someone other than the people controls the outcome. They don't wish to participate in the "fraud" of voting. 2) If someone doesn't want to contribute to politics, who are you to force them? They have the right to not participate. I see voting as a right, not a responsibility. I see it the same way I see the right to remain silent. I'm all for exercising it if it serves an appropriate purpose. But just like it would be better for society if guilty criminals choose not to remain silent, it might be better for society if those who were uninformed and uninterested in politics did not cast a vote.

Well damn, I'm beat. I can't find a good reason to really support compulsory voting, even before making this thread I wasn't sure about it. I still see why the Australians would want to enforce mandatory voting, but you've convinced me it's really a pointless exercise.