Is mandatory voting good idea ?

Godfather.

Is mandatory voting a bad idea ?

Godfather.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/03/19/obama-floats-making-voting-mandatory-calling-it-potentially-transformative/

I read this and another artical and yes FOX headlines have blown it up a little LOL !!!

oftenreading

YES I would support a mandatory voting system

Cautiously yes, supporting a mandatory voting system, but with the caveat that I'd need to see what the proposed system actually is first. I think near-universal voter turnout has the potential to make big changes, but I'd wonder whether it actually increases engaged and educated voters, or if it just increases the number of people voting based on sound bites or even randomly. I think people who are enjoy the privileges of Canadian citizenship should take the time to fulfill this responsibility, which certainly isn't onerous for most. However, I'd wonder how you get excused for legitimate excuses, like being at home with a house full of sick kids on election day? Who would "sign off" on that? If it is just self-report, then not much will change. And finally I don't know how you'd structure the penalty so that it didn't disproportionately fall on people who are already disadvantaged by poverty, disability, etc.

I see from the results that I'm the first one in favour. I wonder what the reasons are for those opposed (other than just "get out of my business")?

hedonist

Nice post, oftenreading.

I'm not at all for this being a must for anyone - to quote one of my favorite bands (and lyrics) - "if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice"

I've voted via absentee ballot for the last six or so years, but leave blank the ones of which I have no knowledge or not enough information to make an informed decision.

gimmesometruth27

YES I would support a mandatory voting system

i think mandatory voting is the only thing that will move our society forward. if every 18-24 year old was forced to vote, our society would be very different.

brianlux

Unless I'm told it's mandatory... haha!... I abstaining from voting in this poll for now until a) I've had time to consider the idea further and b) I'm better educated on the idea....

which points out a couple of reasons mandatory voting might not not be effective. What percentage of those who vote take the time to consider their actions and be educated about the issues and candidates? My first thought is that rather than have compulsory voting, maybe we could do more to encourage people to be better educated and informed and then encourage them to vote. I'm still on the fence on this one.

callen

NO I would not support a mandatory system

Tough call and good poll GF.

Republicans/corporations would never allow it though.

jeffbr

NO I would not support a mandatory system

Hell NO. I know years ago I was called an elitist on this board for expressing my opinion about voting and voter turnout, but the last thing I want is even more uneducated voters fucking things up even worse than they are now. It is already very easy to get registered in most states, and voting absentee means you never even have to leave your house. Where I live we don't even have polling places anymore. All voting is done via mail. If people can't take the time or don't have the interest in voting without any real hurdles, I would not want to make it even easier, let alone compulsory. It just takes one uneducated voter to cancel out the vote of someone who is passionate, does their research and cares.

But even without the above reason, I am generally opposed to compulsion and threats by the feds.

PJ_Soul

NO I would not support a mandatory system

I kind of want to say yes in a way just because of the miserable turnout, and because it would engage people more in the politics that directly affect them, but it very simply goes against the idea that we are free to make our own decisions, including the one to abstain from voting, or to be too lazy to get off our asses and go to the polls.

Godfather.

callen said:

Tough call and good poll GF.

Republicans/corporations would never allow it though.

thanks ! yes it's a real tuff call, on one hand as some have posted a bigger turn-out would change things in our country but I wonder what the conquences might be if people did not vote ? these things usally end up in fines which I would not agree with.

Godfather.

Last-12-Exit

NO I would not support a mandatory system

You have the right to vote, but more importantly you have the right not to vote. A forced vote is as bad if not worse than an eneducated vote.

Godfather.

Last-12-Exit said:

You have the right to vote, but more importantly you have the right not to vote. A forced vote is as bad if not worse than an eneducated vote.

I just can't argue with that at all, well said.

Godfather.

callen

NO I would not support a mandatory system

Last-12-Exit said:

You have the right to vote, but more importantly you have the right not to vote. A forced vote is as bad if not worse than an eneducated vote.

Agree with your replies on this thread.

I know right!!!

To this post could have option- "none represent my positions"

backseatLover12

I don't know, I kinda think it's a good idea, but I don't like the idea of uninformed citizens voting. You should know who you're voting for, and not simply voting who's name you like the best.

What I think should be mandatory is actually having election day as a holiday, so people wouldn't have to use the excuse that they had to work and couldn't make it to the polls. If they wanted people to vote (and we know some states are suppressing certain people from voting…), give us the day off so people can actually do it.

PJfanwillneverleave1

Godfather. said:

Is mandatory voting a bad idea ?

For what country?

or is it just a question to all

rgambs

NO I would not support a mandatory system

I think an incentive would be a much better idea. Tax break tiers for voters...get folks out to the midterms!

i_lov_it

NO I would not support a mandatory system

I'm in Australia and it is Mandatory here...I don't think it should be I just think that you should have a choice.

hedonist

I can see extra time off (many companies allow X amount of time) but a whole day? Nah.

To our Australian friend, has it being compulsory affected your voting?

callen

NO I would not support a mandatory system

i_lov_it said:

I'm in Australia and it is Mandatory here...I don't think it should be I just think that you should have a choice.

Thanks for chiming in.

Read that benefit of mandatory vote is candidates are force to move more towards the center rather than hard left or right as what's going on in US so better for all? Agree?

Last-12-Exit

NO I would not support a mandatory system

backseatLover12 said:

I don't know, I kinda think it's a good idea, but I don't like the idea of uninformed citizens voting. You should know who you're voting for, and not simply voting who's name you like the best.

What I think should be mandatory is actually having election day as a holiday, so people wouldn't have to use the excuse that they had to work and couldn't make it to the polls. If they wanted people to vote (and we know some states are suppressing certain people from voting…), give us the day off so people can actually do it.

If I'm not mistaken, employers are required to let employees vote if they have to work during voting hours.

PJ_Soul

NO I would not support a mandatory system

Last-12-Exit said:

backseatLover12 said:

I don't know, I kinda think it's a good idea, but I don't like the idea of uninformed citizens voting. You should know who you're voting for, and not simply voting who's name you like the best.

What I think should be mandatory is actually having election day as a holiday, so people wouldn't have to use the excuse that they had to work and couldn't make it to the polls. If they wanted people to vote (and we know some states are suppressing certain people from voting…), give us the day off so people can actually do it.

If I'm not mistaken, employers are required to let employees vote if they have to work during voting hours.

Yes, that's right.

Godfather.

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

Godfather. said:

Is mandatory voting a bad idea ?

For what country?

or is it just a question to all

in the USA.

Godfather.

oftenreading

YES I would support a mandatory voting system

Well, guess I hijacked your thread GF talking about Canada but your original question didn't specify.

I'm clearly in the minority, but that's okay, I'm comfortable there . I've voted in every municipal, provincial and federal election that I've been eligible to vote in. I personally believe that voting should be considered a basic, bare minimum for accepting all the benefits of being a citizen here. People the world over are risking death to be able to vote.

If you feel very strongly that the candidates on the ballot don't represent your interests or values, then spoiling your ballot is a stronger message than not showing up at the polls. However, in all the elections I've voted in there's always been at least someone that I could stomach voting for.

HughFreakingDillon

NO I would not support a mandatory system

never. first: it's unenforceable. second: those who don't turn out are largely from the lower ecomonic base. this will come across as punishing the poor. third: I don't want a shitload of uninformed voters just ticking off any old box. I'd rather low percentage informed than higher percentage uninformed.

HesCalledDyer

NO I would not support a mandatory system

^What Hugh said.

PJ_Soul

NO I would not support a mandatory system

I do do think they need to figure out a secure way for people to vote online, which I believe is totally possible to do. I fell like old politicians who are still scared of computers must be preventing this from happening - the same guys who are against the legalozation if marijuana, lol. The voter "turnout" would skyrocket if they did that.

HughFreakingDillon

NO I would not support a mandatory system

PJ_Soul said:

I do do think they need to figure out a secure way for people to vote online, which I believe is totally possible to do. I fell like old politicians who are still scared of computers must be preventing this from happening - the same guys who are against the legalozation if marijuana, lol. The voter "turnout" would skyrocket if they did that.

make it digital, you make it hackable. one guy with a Chloe Obrien at his disposal could win any election he wanted.

Last-12-Exit

NO I would not support a mandatory system

HughFreakingDillon said:

PJ_Soul said:

I do do think they need to figure out a secure way for people to vote online, which I believe is totally possible to do. I fell like old politicians who are still scared of computers must be preventing this from happening - the same guys who are against the legalozation if marijuana, lol. The voter "turnout" would skyrocket if they did that.

make it digital, you make it hackable. one guy with a Chloe Obrien at his disposal could win any election he wanted.

Sweet 24 reference.

PJ_Soul

NO I would not support a mandatory system

HughFreakingDillon said:

PJ_Soul said:

I do do think they need to figure out a secure way for people to vote online, which I believe is totally possible to do. I fell like old politicians who are still scared of computers must be preventing this from happening - the same guys who are against the legalozation if marijuana, lol. The voter "turnout" would skyrocket if they did that.

make it digital, you make it hackable. one guy with a Chloe Obrien at his disposal could win any election he wanted.

Not without getting caught. There are ways to do it if the government cared to, with no more risk to security than exists now. Probably less. There are all kinds of methods they could use to ensure one person, one vote was counted properly in an online system, and prevent hackers from fucking up the results.
It's not like the current system is any good.

backseatLover12

Perhaps this idea comes out of the voter fraud going on in some states. If it was mandatory, perhaps that bogus voter fraud would come to an end, so minorities can actually vote.

jeffbr

NO I would not support a mandatory system

What specific voter fraud are you seeing that keeps minorities from voting? I haven't seen any real, credible documentation of systemic, or widespread voter fraud happening, and it is usually something conservatives tout when trying to scare up votes, so not sure what you're referencing.