Mandatory Voting in the United States?

[Blue3]

What would be your opinion of mandatory voting in the United States? You either vote, or you pay a significant fine.

[Deus Naturae]

No

[I Will Not Be Wrong]

No

[ElectionsGuy]

No, that would add even more problems with our system. We would force people to vote who are significantly more uninformed about politics than the voting public, therefore we would end up with an even more misleading result.

Now there is an argument that says if we make it mandatory it would force people to become informed about politics. But I don't think it would, it would just make many people vote for one candidate based off one issue or one instance. (I realize much of the voting public does this, but do we want to increase this??)

It is their choice to vote, and if they don't then that's their loss.

[Goldwater]

No

[Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends]

No, that would add even more problems with our system. We would force people to vote who are significantly more uninformed about politics than the voting public, therefore we would end up with an even more misleading result.

Now there is an argument that says if we make it mandatory it would force people to become informed about politics. But I don't think it would, it would just make many people vote for one candidate based off one issue or one instance. (I realize much of the voting public does this, but do we want to increase this??)

It is their choice to vote, and if they don't then that's their loss.

Living in the only nation where voting is compulsory, I can tell you that compulsory voting does NOT make people more informed about politics - for a significant portion of Australians, it seems to do the opposite.

This is based on my experiences with what other people have told me, while most of my family, and some of my friends and acquaintances care enough to vote properly, the remainder are more or less apathetic to voting and politics.

I'm also not fond of having to number EVERY box on the ballot paper.

[Edu]

Living in the only nation where voting is compulsory

?

In regards to the question, well I don't really care that much, voting takes so little of my time that I don't mind going to vote even if I hate every single candidate. But that's here, I don't know what impact would it have in the USA. On principle I guess people should be free to avoid voting if they want.

[Frodo]

No -this might go over better in places like Australia, but here it would never fly.  

I would be more amenable to automatic voter registration however.  And that is more within reach -though still unlikely, at least in the short-medium term.    

[Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends]

Living in the only nation where voting is compulsory

?

In regards to the question, well I don't really care that much, voting takes so little of my time that I don't mind going to vote even if I hate every single candidate. But that's here, I don't know what impact would it have in the USA. On principle I guess people should be free to avoid voting if they want.

My apologies, I thought Australia was the only nation with compulsory voting, however, all Australian citizens are required to vote, it doesn't become non-compulsory after a certain age, like in Argentina.

I think a better phrase is Australia is the only nation with compulsory preferential voting, applicable to all citizens aged 18 and over. Singapore is similar, but the voting age is 21, not 18.

Just out of interest, what voting system is used in Argentina?

[Marokai Backbeat]

I've supported compulsory voting for a long time, but I recognize that will never happen here. Our efforts at increasing electoral awareness and making voting accessible are utterly pathetic, regardless.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

No.  I want the uninformed shlubs who don't care to stay at home.  Thx.

[Antonio the Sixth]

I fully support mandatory voting everywhere.

[Franzl]

Lean against. Although it would still be better than the crazy system of voter registration that exists now.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

I fully support mandatory voting everywhere.

What penalty do you propose for those who don't vote if it's mandatory?

[Antonio the Sixth]

I fully support mandatory voting everywhere.

What penalty do you propose for those who don't vote if it's mandatory?

You could get a moderate fine after the 2nd missed vote, gradually increasing as you miss more elections.

Of course, mandatory voting would also imply making voting much easier, through stuff like early voting, mail voting, universal registration, etc.

[Paul Kemp]

No, it's a finely formed American tradition to be apathetic.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

I fully support mandatory voting everywhere.

What penalty do you propose for those who don't vote if it's mandatory?

You could get a moderate fine after the 2nd missed vote, gradually increasing as you miss more elections.

Of course, mandatory voting would also imply making voting much easier, through stuff like early voting, mail voting, universal registration, etc.

It might be PC to say, Tony, but the poors (black and white) are the vast majority that don't vote.  So fine them?

[Franzl]

I fully support mandatory voting everywhere.

What penalty do you propose for those who don't vote if it's mandatory?

You could get a moderate fine after the 2nd missed vote, gradually increasing as you miss more elections.

Of course, mandatory voting would also imply making voting much easier, through stuff like early voting, mail voting, universal registration, etc.

I'm all for making voting easier and ensuring that every voter is automatically registered, but I don't believe mandatory voting would suddenly lead to greatly increased political awareness. And if someone doesn't know or care enough to vote despite it being easy and accessible, I doubt him doing so would benefit the political system.

[Paul Kemp]

I fully support mandatory voting everywhere.

What penalty do you propose for those who don't vote if it's mandatory?

You could get a moderate fine after the 2nd missed vote, gradually increasing as you miss more elections.

Of course, mandatory voting would also imply making voting much easier, through stuff like early voting, mail voting, universal registration, etc.

It might be PC to say, Tony, but the poors (black and white) are the vast majority that don't vote.  So fine them?

That's a very valid concern.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

I fully support mandatory voting everywhere.

What penalty do you propose for those who don't vote if it's mandatory?

You could get a moderate fine after the 2nd missed vote, gradually increasing as you miss more elections.

Of course, mandatory voting would also imply making voting much easier, through stuff like early voting, mail voting, universal registration, etc.

It might be PC to say, Tony, but the poors (black and white) are the vast majority that don't vote.  So fine them?

That's a very valid concern.

And I meant it might NOT be politically correct to say.......sorry.

[IceSpear]

No.  I want the uninformed shlubs who don't care to stay at home.  Thx.

Huh? Tea Partiers always vote.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

No.  I want the uninformed shlubs who don't care to stay at home.  Thx.

Huh? Tea Partiers always vote.

Amen, brother.

[Paul Kemp]

I fully support mandatory voting everywhere.

What penalty do you propose for those who don't vote if it's mandatory?

You could get a moderate fine after the 2nd missed vote, gradually increasing as you miss more elections.

Of course, mandatory voting would also imply making voting much easier, through stuff like early voting, mail voting, universal registration, etc.

It might be PC to say, Tony, but the poors (black and white) are the vast majority that don't vote.  So fine them?

That's a very valid concern.

And I meant it might NOT be politically correct to say.......sorry.

Yea, I know what you meant; I wouldn't expect you to be PC . I still think it is an interesting issue.

[Antonio the Sixth]

I fully support mandatory voting everywhere.

What penalty do you propose for those who don't vote if it's mandatory?

You could get a moderate fine after the 2nd missed vote, gradually increasing as you miss more elections.

Of course, mandatory voting would also imply making voting much easier, through stuff like early voting, mail voting, universal registration, etc.

It might be PC to say, Tony, but the poors (black and white) are the vast majority that don't vote.  So fine them?

That's a very valid concern.

Yes, I do have some moral qualms about fining people who can barely afford it (though obviously, in my ideal society, poor people would be better off than IRL even with such fines). That said, I assume most people wouldn't pay anything, since the possibility of being fined would be a sufficient incentive to go vote (I'd also support sending every first-time nonvoter a mail warning them of the consequences of subsequent abstentions).

And if someone doesn't know or care enough to vote despite it being easy and accessible, I doubt him doing so would benefit the political system.

I disagree with that. Anyone, regardless of their competence or interest in politics, should be able to express their voice in the democratic process. This is the very basis of democracy. We can certainly envision a system where only the politically engaged participate, but the problem is that these people would be unfit to represent the interest of the disenfranchised masses (precisely because political commitment is highly correlated with wealth and other forms of privilege). We need all the people to vote, because they all have a stake in policy and nobody can legitimately speak for another.

[angus]

No.  Already elections are popularity contests based on money.  That would only make it a bigger problem, and we'd likely get even worse politicians if the completely uninterested/uninformed become purchasable voters.