Sould voting be compulsary?

[2952-0-0]

In Australia (and Singapore, where ballots have serial numbers on them) it is. Should it be in the US?

[Ebowed]

Absolutely not.  Political analysts wonder why voter turn-out remains low.  They act like there's something wrong with the voters, not the candidates.  Someday, I hope they'll get it.

[minionofmidas]

I'm all for it. Means there's no point in negative campaigning.
Also exists in Belgium, Luxembourg, for 18-65 year olds in Brazil, and purely nominally in Italy.

[John Dibble]

Hell no. The people who don't vote most often don't understand the issues or what the candidates stand for - do you really want people like that voting?

[angus]

What a creepy orwellian idea.  Hey, let's model our system after Saddam's Iraq.  No thank you.  Anyway, like Dibble points out, having a few hoops to go through helps keep a large number of uninformed folks out of the polls.  Don't know what we can do to keep those fifty million who voted for Al Gore out.  But you can be reasonably certain that a mandated electorate would be even less informed that the self-selected electorate we have now.

[patrick1]

I agree 100% with Dibble.  It is your God-given birthright as an American to be lazy and un-informed;)

[John Dibble]

I agree 100% with Dibble.  It is your God-given birthright as an American to be lazy and un-informed;)

A right I'm glad I don't exercise.

[Sam Spade]

No way.

[Alcon]

No.

Not voting does not hurt anyone else, so the government should stay out.

[??????????]

No.

Not voting does not hurt anyone else, so the government should stay out.

Not voting only hurts yourself and your interests.

[A18]

And the interests of others who think like you, but even if we did impose this fascist requirement, the party that opposed it would be swept into power for two years to repeal it (since 50% of the population does not vote).

[angus]

I hear the dead can still vote.  So long as they vote Democrat.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

It's probably a good idea. Voting is a civic duty IMO. Don't vote, don't bitch when your taxes go up...

[nclib]

No, though I would encourage anyone to vote.

[A18]

Voting is a civic duty IMO.

In many cases, I would argue it is a person's civic duty not to vote.

[Dave from Michigan]

no if you don't want to vote you shouldn't have to. 

[Filuwaúrdjan]

In many cases, I would argue it is a person's civic duty not to vote.

Yes, but then you'd rather live in some form of corrupt oligarchy-cum-dictatorship wouldn't you?

[A18]

Nah, Jeffersonian democracy would be ideal.

[Cowboy]

Howdy!

Nope...but if ya don't, ya can't complain.

[A18]

Puh. I don't even believe you're from Wyoming.

[Cowboy]

Howdy!

Puh. I don't even believe you're from Wyoming.

I enjoy doing the fake cowboy stereotype out of fun. This is not how I talk, thank God.

[??????????]

[dazzleman]

No, voting should not be compulsory.

For most people who don't vote, the reason is lack of interest or knowledge.  It serves no purpose to try to force people who don't know anything about the issues, and have no interest, to vote.  It can only cheapen the process, beyond where it already is, in my opinion.

Contrary to what some people think, I don't blame the quality of the candidates for the low rate of voter participation.  That's simply an excuse given by people who just aren't interested.  The real blame is with the people themselves who don't vote.

Part of the problem is that people don't value what is too easy.  As long as the right to vote is not threatened, a good percentage of people will take it for granted.  It's simply not appreciated because it was always there, and always will be.  But making voting compulsory solves nothing.  I'd love to see higher voter participation, with the voters informed and educated about the issues, but not with ignorant voters.

[J. J.]

I my ballot is secret, what would prevent me from going into the booth, pulling the curtain shut, waiting 30 seconds, and opening the curtain. 

The only effective way to reguire voting is to abolish the secret ballot; does any one favor that?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Remember that my brother voted for Peroutka, and his reasoning?

Now imagine how someone who can't be bothered to vote now and is even less politically aware than him would vote.