Compulsory Voting: A Forum Discussion

Published on September 2, 2004 By Gideon MacLeish In Politics

OK, this is a nod to our Aussie contingent.

I am, on principle, against the idea of compulsory voting, but I think it would be an interesting debate topic. Here are my questions:

To Australians: What are the pros and cons from your point of view of your compulsory voting system? Have you seen abuses and how would you act to eliminate those abuses if you have seen them.

To Americans (and anyone without a compulsory voting system): Do you think compulsory voting would be a practical idea for your country? Would it significantly change the political landscape in your country? What abuses do you see in such a system and how would you work to avoid them?

I look forward to your input.

sincerely,

Gideon MacLeish

Comments (Page 1)

FreeMark

on Sep 02, 2004

Here is my American answer:
We gain nothing by forcing people to vote who would not do so by choice except chaos. I will fight all day with a man with whom I disagree but spare not a moment for a man with no opinion. Forcing them to vote doesn't force them to develop an opinion it only forces them to make a choice.

Change the landscape...probably not.

Abuses in the system...the system is an abuse.

notsohighlyevolved

on Sep 02, 2004

This is one Australian's view:

We are basically forced to inform ourselves, at least in some cursory way. We know we have to vote, and in some small way it gives us an incentive to at least pay attention to the process and its outcome.

I will be the first to say that this is not the inevitable result of compulsory voting. I imagine there are a lot of void votes that do not count because some idiot has written "fuck politics" or what not on the ballot.

You could conceivably list this under the cons. As voting is compulsory and not everyone who votes will have educated themselves on why they should vote or how to vote, there are a lot of votes that are unintentional, or donkey votes (where voters mark the boxes with 1-n in sequence, not actually stating their preferences but just filling the spaces) that could have a confounding effect.

The fact that our voting is compulsory could have something to do with the fact that our electoral system is hinged on what is known as "preferences". In effect this means that you do not only vote for who you vote for. Depending on which "seat" you vote in, the party you vote for will have preferences. This means that if the party or candidate you vote for doesn't win, your vote goes to your candidates "preference". This has lead to a lot of back door dealing amongst the political parties and we Aussies have a somewhat ambivalent attitude towards this system.

What you must also keep in mind is that voting here isn't really compulsory. We have to enrol (the equivalent of your registration i guess) and we have to show up to the polls, but we don't have to vote. It's a secret ballot and you don't have to actually vote, just drop the ballot in the box. If you don't, you get a paltry $20 fine, not a gun to the head.

I would say that the main benefit is that our political parties can concentrate on campaigning on issues, rather than expending large amounts of money and energy just getting people to the polls. Politics here aren't as theatrical for this very reason. Quite subdued affairs if you ask me and i prefer it that way. I would rather hear the policies than the din.

All up, i'm all for it, seeing as absenteeism is just as political a statement as voting is, it can just cause a whole lot more damage. Better register everyone's voice and opinion rather than those who have a vested interest in getting their voice heard. You end up cancelling out a lot of complexity in the electoral process just by having everyone at least showing up.

Marco

Gideon MacLeish

on Sep 02, 2004

ok,

so we have one American's view and one Aussie view. Let's see if we can get this thread rolling a little further.

SSG Geezer

on Sep 02, 2004

No No NO! A thousand times no!
It should be a privelege that must be earned. Heinlien had it right that citizenship is a responsibility
and a duty that should be earned. Call me elitist or whatever, but if you were required to serve your country in
some way shape or form to earn the right to vote or to run for office, we would be down a lot of political hacks
in both houses of congress and IMHO that would not be too bad a thing.

Gideon MacLeish

on Sep 02, 2004

ssg,

Very interesting point. I'm holding my thoughts until I get more input. Please check back on this one, though.

notsohighlyevolved

on Sep 02, 2004

It should be a privelege that must be earned. Heinlien had it right that citizenship is a responsibility and a duty that should be earned

The ancient Greek and Roman republics had the same idea. Cause of their greatness or ultimate cause of their demise?

We are either all of us citizens or some of us slaves. That's my humble reckoning anyway.

Marco

historyishere

on Sep 02, 2004

Yeah, that would sort of conflict with the ideal of all people being created equal and such....

oligarchy314

on Sep 02, 2004

The problem I have with compulsory voting is that people who have little interest and little knowledge about issues would be voting.

SSG Geezer

on Sep 02, 2004

Marco,
those societies were brought down in part by their slavery. There was no immigration except as slaves or semi Independent vassal states.
In my perfect world there would be a way for anyone to serve.
Peace Corps, Americorps, Marine Corps, NASA, anything that shows some sort of value to our nation.
It should be something that anyone below a certain age could do.
The major problem with enacting this program would be the political hacks I mentioned above unless it
came from a constitutional amendment. (Not too likely, look at the ERA)

notsohighlyevolved

on Sep 02, 2004

In my perfect world there would be a way for anyone to serve.
Peace Corps, Americorps, Marine Corps, NASA, anything that shows some sort of value to our nation.
It should be something that anyone below a certain age could do.

I agree with you 100%. It's just your notion of citizenship that worried me...but not really now that i think of it. There is a vast difference between a mere inhabitant and a citizen (in practise, if not theory), no matter what rights are granted to you according to the "rules" of membership.

Marco

brainchild1787

on Sep 02, 2004

I am against compulsory voting. America is free country, and If you don't want to vote, you don't have to. It is a shame though, that any person would not express a wish to participate in the Great Democratic Process, that was bought with blood, but it is their right.

ShoZan

on Sep 02, 2004

Polo (sorry couldn't resist)

Umm, not sure of one way or the other, but did find a well put together article on the subject, with UK and US perspecitives.

Make Voting Compulsory - by Tom Watson MP and Mark Tami MP[LINK]

Be prepared though it's a long one.

Draginol

on Sep 03, 2004

Forcing voting isn't the same as forcing oneself to become informed. It is just forcing people to vote.

Solitair

on Sep 03, 2004

I would porefer to see encouraged voting as oppossed to compulsory voting.

For example, if people who vote were given a 1/2% tax rebate, or a discount on local service charges, I think voter turnout would increase dramatically. You just need to find a carrot big enough and one which appeals to all voters, whether income earners, house wives, retired, etc...

Government could then jsut increase taxes in general by 1/2% and all balances out nicely. Except for those that don't vote of course!

Paul.

notsohighlyevolved

on Sep 03, 2004

Forcing voting isn't the same as forcing oneself to become informed. It is just forcing people to vote.

No one forces you to vote, Draginol. Like I said, a $20 fine. Not exactly coercion. And that's only if you don't show up on the day. You can show up and not vote, as long as you mark your name off the roll.

I believe that Australians are some of the most politically informed people on the planet. Given our geographical isolation from our "roots", our position within such a volatile and ever shifting area of the world (South East Asia and the Pacific region) and our need for a network of alliances (both strategic and economic) given our limited military strength, we have had to be. I also, firmly, believe that our politicial institutions and methods (including compulsory voting) have contributed to our "education".

Marco

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