Compulsory voting

[capslock]

It seems alot of people are against the idea. But i'd like to hear how you would get more people to vote and to learn about the issues?

Why do you care so much about what others do? Just worry about yourself.

Intrusive policies like forced voting just piss people off. Noone likes the government forcing them to do anything, even if they would do it anyway.

Wouldn't it be funny if the first candidates elected under this new voting policy ran on "Repeal Compulsory Voting" platforms.

 

[Atlas14]

'm all up for compulsory voting,the turnout for the elections are horrible.If the person doesnt want to vote for either candidates or parties,they should just cross them out or circle undecided(I dont remember which option is available but either works).

Too many people are ******** though, and will end up voting for somebody so as to not view their trip to the polls as a complete waste. And in the end, the Americans or whoever is instituting compulsory voting will be the ones to suffer.

 

[bhsup]

Speaking as an American... We celebrate Veterans Day on Nov. 11. Just make Veteran's day the 2nd Tuesday of November and make that election day. You'd have 2 positive effects:

1. Increase voter turnout
2. Make the holiday commemorating the sacrifices of our veterans truly synonymous with celebrating democracy.

You do realize that there is an historic reason why it is on November 11th, right? I'll give you a hint, in case you don't know, "Arm...".

 

[HawkeyeGS]

We have it here in Australia but I am on the fence as to wether it is right or not. On one hand it would make the people who are interested enough in politics to vote so we wouldn't have to listen to "WTH did the government do that for". OIn the other a high percentage of people here just number randomly because they don't care to do it properly. I also partially agree with the saying that the vote of Einstien shouldn't be given the same weight as the village idiot.

 

[Shaihulud]

I misvoted, I meant to say i live in a country where there is compulsory voting and i am against it. makes no difference, my vote because everyone can see who is going to win. The first shot haven't even been fired yet and the opposition parties are already being sued enmass, not that they have an even chance. People in regions that are being contested by the opposition party are warned that they will not get benefits from the government if they vote for the opposition.

 

[ComradeDavo]

Possibly by making them earn their vote. Allow only those people who have either served an enlistment term in the military OR worked in the government civil service for the same period of time to vote. The government would
have to take anyone who wanted to do this; anyone who
quit before their time was up forfiets their vote forever.

This is the idea in Heinlein's Starship Troopers; I
actually think it would be worth trying.

When I first read Starship troopers I seriously thoguht it was someone writing from the viewpoint of society gone bad......which kinda shows what I think of thet idea...

 

[ComradeDavo]

Why do you care so much about what others do? Just worry about yourself.

Intrusive policies like forced voting just piss people off. Noone likes the government forcing them to do anything, even if they would do it anyway.

Wouldn't it be funny if the first candidates elected under this new voting policy ran on "Repeal Compulsory Voting" platforms.

I worry about others because I can not function without human interaction.

 

[IglooDame]

Compulsory? No thanks, I'm having a tough enough time as it is convincing stupid people that their vote doesn't matter and they shouldn't bother casting it.

 

[capslock]

I worry about others because I can not function without human interaction.

Yeah me too, but not to the extant that I'm gonna baby sit them all the time.

 

[kingjoshi]

When I first read Starship troopers I seriously thoguht it was someone writing from the viewpoint of society gone bad......which kinda shows what I think of thet idea...

I saw the movie and never read the book. I made the dumb assumption that at least the movie would follow the same spirit of the book. However, the director, Paul Verhoeven, shares your contempt for the book so much that he basically satirizes the book. He couldn't even finish reading the book.

I found the movie excellent and decided to read up the wiki page on the book because of the various views I've heard/read about the topic.

I can understand the rationale behind the theme of the book, "... to demonstrate that social responsibility requires individual sacrifice." I can even understand people that would want to require some sort of civil service from citizens. But I'm wary of government enough to offset any advantages I think society gains from such requirements. And to add such service to gain suffrage is even more scary.

In any government, people can oppress others. But at least in a democracy, I know I'll at least have a vote. People can change the democracy to where they have more power and not all democracies are equal. But as we limit that democracy, how do I know that I'm not the one being oppressed? How do I know that stupid people won't devise the test that results in stupid officials and stupid policies? And the smart people get castigated and labeled fools?

 

[kingjoshi]

But you wouldn't mind the government eroding our right to stay at home, watch TV and not vote?

I don't know how much an erosion of rights it would be, if any.

There are various arguments behind both for and against. Some better than others. But I think some good could come of it and I see very little negativity.

However, a dark part of me would like to see it for one reason: the people that would have to pay the fine would benefit the most. They'd see the value and power of voting. They would have to register and vote to change the laws. And they are very well within their rights to do that. Moreso, it is their responsibility to do so which they choose not to. They would have put themselves in that situation by not being involved.

So while I wouldn't propose such measures, if passed by the voters, I'd tacitly support it.

 

[.Shane.]

You do realize that there is an historic reason why it is on November 11th, right? I'll give you a hint, in case you don't know, "Arm...".

Yes, I understand, the 11th month/day/hour/minute.

But, given that Veterans are not just from WWI AND that 99.99% of people in the US have no idea what that is, I think my alternative is way better and brings more honor to the veterans.

 

[PrinceOfLeigh]

Yes, I understand, the 11th month/day/hour/minute.

But, given that Veterans are not just from WWI AND that 99.99% of people in the US have no idea what that is, I think my alternative is way better and brings more honor to the veterans.

If true that's pretty upsetting. Education in America is obviously ingood.

 

[ComradeDavo]

I saw the movie and never read the book. I made the dumb assumption that at least the movie would follow the same spirit of the book. However, the director, Paul Verhoeven, shares your contempt for the book so much that he basically satirizes the book. He couldn't even finish reading the book.

I found the movie excellent and decided to read up the wiki page on the book because of the various views I've heard/read about the topic.

I can understand the rationale behind the theme of the book, "... to demonstrate that social responsibility requires individual sacrifice." I can even understand people that would want to require some sort of civil service from citizens. But I'm wary of government enough to offset any advantages I think society gains from such requirements. And to add such service to gain suffrage is even more scary.

In any government, people can oppress others. But at least in a democracy, I know I'll at least have a vote. People can change the democracy to where they have more power and not all democracies are equal. But as we limit that democracy, how do I know that I'm not the one being oppressed? How do I know that stupid people won't devise the test that results in stupid officials and stupid policies? And the smart people get castigated and labeled fools?

Yeh I quite liked the film

Whilst i understand the reasoning I strongly disagree with it.

I agree very much with your last paragraph!

 

[.Shane.]

If true that's pretty upsetting. Education in America is obviously ingood.

I wouldn't make those type of assumptions. By "no idea what this is", I didn't mean WWI, I meant the term "Armistice Day" as well as the 11 day/11 month reference. However, yes, we've heard of WWI.

When considering the US, WWII is a much more important event and gets much more attention here.

While in a global context, WWI is the more definitive event, especially if we focus just on Europe. Also, I think its been deemphasized in US history because WWI became a very bitter experience for the US.

 

[PrinceOfLeigh]

If we are to be compelled to vote, which Party do you think will benefit / suffer most? (In your country?)

I wouldn't make those type of assumptions.

I'll respond to that in PM so I'm not Spamming the Thread.

 

[Low Tier Hero]

People assume the government is out to harm them, seperated from the commoon man, doesen't represent them, and a myriad number of reasons not to vote.

In the US; backing from large companies or solitary persons makes a huge difference in PR, which, wins you campaigns. This is common knowledge. In a sense america is a feudalism of corporations.

Sure, any man can be president, but if you don't have the money to tour around and do PR, not to mention a million other things, good luck. As it stands now, high end politics is the playground of the affluent.

This being the case; why do I care to vote when the people being elected are dicks and defintely not the most qualified? The answer? I don't.

-An Idle Mind

 

[classical_hero]

I misvoted, I meant to say i live in a country where there is compulsory voting and i am against it. makes no difference, my vote because everyone can see who is going to win. The first shot haven't even been fired yet and the opposition parties are already being sued enmass, not that they have an even chance. People in regions that are being contested by the opposition party are warned that they will not get benefits from the government if they vote for the opposition.

What you just did is a donkey vote. I love that term.

 

[ComradeDavo]

The appaling 34% turn out in the local elections yesterday (not here but in soem parts of UK) does nothing but put forward the case for compulsury voting!

 

[azzaman333]

make voting compulsory, so the people cant complain about the leaders they got, since they (the majority) voted for them.