Compulsory voting

[Atlas14]

Compulsory voting defeats the democratic reasoning for voting in the first place.

 

[Atlas14]

I would tacitly support 'compulsive voting'. I find it amusing that so many that don't mind the government slowly eroding our rights complain about this.

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

 

[sanabas]

We do have compulsory voting, and I disagree with it. One problem I have heard about with the US system (no idea if it is true in the UK too), is that access to voting can be problematic. Whether due to registration snafus, limited hours of operation for polling booths, difficulties getting out of work, etc. Compulsory voting should help fix those problems, but all those problems can be fixed without resorting to compulsory voting.

It seems that the stated goal of introducing this in the UK is to improve voter turnout, and by implication to actually make people think, care & participate in actually using their vote. Unfortunately I don't see how it will have any effect on those implied goals. Those who care will already think & vote. Those who don't care will vote based on the best TV ad they've seen, the most convincing propaganda they've heard, who's got the best name, who their parent voted for, etc, etc. They'll do that with or without compulsory voting. To paraphrase a saying: "You can lead sheep to the polls but you can't make them think."

 

[PrinceOfLeigh]

I'm against compulsory voting. For me voting is similar to the adage, you learn more from failure than success. Applied to voters, you learn more from those who feel either too disinterested, disengaged or distanced from politics than youo do from those who have a clear idea of what they want. Reaching the people who don't vote should be the main aim of any politician.

"None of the above" would be a decent idea in some areas. Or if you could vote for a party rather than an individual, for example, "Labour Party but not that to$$er".

***Disclaimer***
2nd Paragraph is rather flippant and not something I'm going to debate the merits of. Sometimes there is honesty in humour though

 

[Abaddon]

I abstain from this poll... just to be unoriginal.

Sure its benefitial to get a larger population voting, but a forced vote makes even less sence.

 

[classical_hero]

I have no problem with Compulsory voting because I have to.

 

[ComradeDavo]

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?

 

[PrinceOfLeigh]

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?

Sorry mate, if I knew how to engage young or distinterested voters I would be saving those ideas to sell to a major party I don't have any ideas by the way

It may sound ridiculous but the major parties could take a look at what some of the single issue fringe parties are doing. Including the BNP. I despise what they stand for, but some (educated) people are being swung to their way of thinking. I'm not sure why.

 

[ComradeDavo]

Sorry mate, if I knew how to engage young or distinterested voters I would be saving those ideas to sell to a major party I don't have any ideas by the way

It may sound ridiculous but the major parties could take a look at what some of the single issue fringe parties are doing. Including the BNP. I despise what they stand for, but some (educated) people are being swung to their way of thinking. I'm not sure why.

Personally, the only person who I know who ever voted BNP was a bit uneducated about politics and when he saw a documentry that showed them to be racist he change dhis mind about them. I don't know anyone apart from a couple fo epoepl on these forums who have thought about voting for them, so I think the problem of the BNP is very localised to specific areas. The major 3 Parties to have policies on everything, and personally I find fosucing on a single issue parties off putting.

 

[PrinceOfLeigh]

Personally, the only person who I know who ever voted BNP was a bit uneducated about politics and when he saw a documentry that showed them to be racist he change dhis mind about them. I don't know anyone apart from a couple fo epoepl on these forums who have thought about voting for them, so I think the problem of the BNP is very localised to specific areas. The major 3 Parties to have policies on everything, and personally I find fosucing on a single issue parties off putting.

I do too, but it begs the question of why a bunch of racist idiots can get elected over and above representatives from the Big Three. Even if their support is localised and relatively small.

 

[ComradeDavo]

I do too, but it begs the question of why a bunch of racist idiots can get elected over and above representatives from the Big Three. Even if their support is localised and relatively small.

Well, see my recent thread about how the BNP tell lies in their campaign.

 

[silver 2039]

Hell no. If anything voting should be restricted to fewer people. We deifnatley don't want more idiots voting.

Living in India where we have 80%+ turnout, many of those who vote are illiterate and know little to nothing about the party or candidates thgey are voting for. They vote because of the lying promises the corrupt politicans make but never keep or they may be bribed by a certain party or forced to vote for a certain party.

I really don't see why the fate of the country should be palced in the hands of an illiterate farmer who votes for the Congress party becuase they think Sonia Ghandi is related to Mahatham Ghandi. (which she isn't)

At the very least they must be literate to vote and to a greater extent i feel that a basic test regarding the candidates, their platforms, and political issues should be mandatory before being allowed to vote. Also one should b made to take an exam regarding how the political ssytem of the country works before one is issued a voters liscense which then gives them a right to vote.

This will remove the illiterate, the ignorant and such other people from the voting lists allowing people to vote for the merit of the candiadte and the party rather than because of good looks or relations or any such nonsense.

 

[Samson]

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?

Paries that appeal to the young and disenfranchised.
Polititions that treat the public like resmoble human beings.
No linking of voter registration to taxation or credit agencies.
Voting booths in pubs.
Free alco-pops at poling stations (only this one is sort of a joke).

At the very least they must be literate to vote and to a greater extent i feel that a basic test regarding the candidates, their platforms, and political issues should be mandatory before being allowed to vote.

Was this not a method that qwas used to prevent blacks voting in the southern USA for some years?
I really sounds like a move towards minority rule and elitism, and one that makes me feel very uncoftable.

 

[PrinceOfLeigh]

Paries that appeal to the young and disenfranchised.

THAT was the other DIS-word I was thinking of. Thanks, I was racking my brain and couldn't get passed disinterested which I knew didn't sound right

Was this not a method that qwas used to prevent blacks voting in the southern USA for some years?
I really sounds like a move towards minority rule and elitism, and one that makes me feel very uncoftable.

Women too. Their lack of intelligence being sited as a reason for them being under undue influence whilst voting. Not just in Southern US though.

 

[Mr. Blonde]

In a country without compulsory voting and being fine that way (although I go to every election).

If you force people to go to vote that usually wouldn´t, you would have approx. 20% uninterested in politics voters more - I see them either voting not valid (there are actually already many people writing politicians suck or similar things on their sheets) or falling for a populist party, neither is adding to politics, imho.

And the right to vote should never be limited for a legally responsible person.

 

[EdwardTking]

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?

Well prior to the Great Reform Act in 183?, candidates would encourage the voters by buying them beer and occasionally a three course meal. And guess what in those days the complaints were from those people who were not eligible to vote and not from candidates. Bring back Merry England.

 

[.Shane.]

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.

 

[blackheart]

What an ironic oxymoron, "forced democracy"

 

[Kozmos]

I'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).

 

[Serutan]

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?

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.