Should voting be mandatory?

[SliK]

Voting is mandatory in Australia. Every citizen who doesn't vote receives a fine. I am in two minds as to whether or not this is a good thing.
I am leaning toward it being a bad thing. There are many uninformed members of the public, who really don't know what is best or who can give it to them. A lot of people blame the current state of the country (which is actually very good compared to countries like America and Britan. We survived the recession and our economy is strong, comparatively) on the current government, rather than global circumstances.
A lot of ignorant people wouldn't vote if they didn't have to. A lot of uninformed people, who know they are uninformed and not in a position to make a legitimate decision would choose not to vote rather than voting just to avoid a fine.
Teenagers are made to vote... 18, 19 year olds who don't give a shit have to vote, and they number the ballet 1,2,3,4,5,6 just to avoid a fine. That vote still counts though.
However, most of the country votes, like 90% of everyone that can vote. There is no need to try to get people down to the voting booths on Election Day because everyone knows they have to vote. If everyone was made to vote in America the results of Elections could be drastically different.

What do you think? Should voting be mandatory for every citizen? Why/Why not?

[SajN]

To vote for a party or a person, is a privilege one have in a democratic society. It's their own freedom to decide whether they should vote or not. Once you start forcing everyone to vote, it isn't that much freedom, is it?

What if someone doesn't know who to vote for? That person is split between two parties, maybe even three. But he has to vote, and therefore maybe picks the "wrong" one (if is unsure who to for), and that party will get an extra (and maybe undeserved) vote.

People should be aware of the different parties and their plans though, through campaigns, meetings and such.

My strongest point is the first one, but the second is also connected to it.

Oh, also... as I said, to vote is a privilegium one have, and if some decide not to vote, they shouldn't really complain if a party they don't like gets chosen. It was their own choice to not vote, and maybe make difference, but they didn't.

I am against voting being mandatory.

[ChristinaE12]

Definitely should not be mandatory. I think it should be more earned than anything. Cause, as you even said.. People will just be checking boxes as opposed to actually reading up and informing themselves and voting with who's views they are closest with.

We already have way too many uneducated idiots who are allowed to vote and shouldn't. They'll just go with what's popular or whatever. Make everyone vote and this problem will multiply.

[Kill You]

No, but if you don't vote then you have NO reason to bitch about who becomes elected.

[Blu]

That sounds pretty dumb.

[Amaranthine]

No, but if you don't vote then you have NO reason to bitch about who becomes elected.

If voting was mandadory...well, there are way too many people who are ignorant about politics and would end up essentially flipping a coin.

[B.A.D.]

depends on the Boobies I think

[Atone]

Nope

Free country, if they MAKE us vote, that's just unconstitutional

[SliK]

Remember, Australia only has a population of 21M (including non voters). If voting wasn't mandatory could you imagine how few people would turn out to vote?

[CrashBand]

I remember hearing a statistic in New Zealand we have a higher percentage that vote and voting isn't compulsory here.

What are any good reasons that you can think to make it compulsory?

If someone isn't interested in politics, they shouldn't be forced to vote, imo.

[SliK]

If it wasn't for mandatory voting I wouldn't have taken it upon myself to become informed. I felt a responsibility to make an informed decision, and that is pushed quite heavily here.
I put a blank ballet paper in the box the first couple of times I voted, so it's not like every single person who gets their name marked off makes a difference; a lot of people do that to avoiding voting for someone. That maybe defeats the point of having mandatory voting though...
I think it should be mandatory, but they should teach it (impartially) in high schools so people are ready to make a decision that is best for them. If they force you to vote and force you to learn what is best for you, they would ensure every citizen is going to the voting booth aware of the parties and what they stand for.

[B.A.D.]

wait, is it mandatory in Australia?... I've never been forced to vote in here or anything like that. Maybe its because there's too much boobies in here

[SliK]

wait, is it mandatory in Australia?... I've never been forced to vote in here or anything like that. Maybe its because there's too much boobies in here

It certainly is.

[Guess_Who]

^^ lol.


I think it should never be mandatory. Basically what Christina said in the page 1. I could repeat the same in broken English but I feel lazy. Enough people who shouldn't vote are voting already.

[NextEpisode]

"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter." - Winston Churchill

^
Truth!