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.
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.
I believe this is sarcasm...relating the lack of evidence that voter fraud actually occurs and the fact that republicans use this falsity to try to keep minorities (who typically vote democrat) from voting with new voter ID restrictions.
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.
I believe this is sarcasm...relating the lack of evidence that voter fraud actually occurs and the fact that republicans use this falsity to try to keep minorities (who typically vote democrat) from voting with new voter ID restrictions.
Since Dems are typically against Voter ID restrictions, which probably do tend to lower minority voting numbers, how would we possibly implement a mandatory system? Wouldn't that mean that everyone would have to be accounted for somehow? Wouldn't that require either some sort of Voter ID or at least tracking of who voted based on some sort of unique identifier? I can't see either side really championing mandatory voting due to their own preconceived notions about current voting behavior. BTW Gambs, based on your poll vote I know you aren't a proponent, so I'm not specifically asking you how you'd champion mandatory voting, it was more of a general question. I just don't see how it would get a lot of traction on either side of the aisle.
"I'll use the magic word - let's just shut the fuck up, please." EV, 04/13/08
I've been doing a bit of reading on this subject now that my interest has been piqued. I hadn't realized that voting has been mandatory in Australia since 1924 - I had assumed it was a more recent invention.
Any discussion of the issue raises the points people have already made above. One point hasn't been raised here yet, though, is that when the state mandates people voting it also incurs an obligation to make voting as easy and accessible as possible (at least, it should, and the states that have mandatory voting do this). In practice that means that elections are on a weekend or holiday, people can vote in any riding, there are far more polling stations, and polls are brought to locations such as hospitals, nursing homes, etc. (It doesn't look like Australia has electronic voting.)
As for how voters are registered, as asked above - all these other countries have managed it, so I'm sure the US could figure it out.
And Australia only mandates that you show up at the poll. You can apparently feel free to put in a blank ballot, or one which you have spoiled in some way, once you have shown up.
Yes, there is a cost in terms of enforcement. I haven't yet read any breakdown on this, or any major analysis as to how mandatory voting has affected policy, given that there is an assumption that those who are now relatively disenfranchised by poverty, disability, etc. would then be voting in much higher numbers.
my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
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.
I believe this is sarcasm...relating the lack of evidence that voter fraud actually occurs and the fact that republicans use this falsity to try to keep minorities (who typically vote democrat) from voting with new voter ID restrictions.
Since Dems are typically against Voter ID restrictions, which probably do tend to lower minority voting numbers, how would we possibly implement a mandatory system? Wouldn't that mean that everyone would have to be accounted for somehow? Wouldn't that require either some sort of Voter ID or at least tracking of who voted based on some sort of unique identifier? I can't see either side really championing mandatory voting due to their own preconceived notions about current voting behavior. BTW Gambs, based on your poll vote I know you aren't a proponent, so I'm not specifically asking you how you'd champion mandatory voting, it was more of a general question. I just don't see how it would get a lot of traction on either side of the aisle.
With "conservative" Voter ID laws, the onus to comply falls entirely on the voter...I wouldn't be against them if the registration was compulsory and fairly administered. That would apply to compulsory voting as well.
I don't think you Americans have to worry about mandatory voting anyway; I just don't see it getting any traction in your country. Possibly Canada, but unlikely, particularly with Harper in power.
my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
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?
Hey there...Good question I think it has affected my voting...because mandatory voting is in place I've ended up voting for a party I didn't really want to vote for...but having said I have voted for parties that I did want to vote for but that had nothing to do with mandatory voting.
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?
That's cool mate...I can see where your coming from...but I have to disagree though...How would moving towards the centre as you put it be any better?...I think that it's mandatory here because they're afraid of a low voter turn maybe but I can't be too sure.
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?
Hey there...Good question I think it has affected my voting...because mandatory voting is in place I've ended up voting for a party I didn't really want to vote for...but having said I have voted for parties that I did want to vote for but that had nothing to do with mandatory voting.
Couldn't you just have spoiled your ballot, effectively voting for no one? I've done it. Felt good too.
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?
Hey there...Good question I think it has affected my voting...because mandatory voting is in place I've ended up voting for a party I didn't really want to vote for...but having said I have voted for parties that I did want to vote for but that had nothing to do with mandatory voting.
Couldn't you just have spoiled your ballot, effectively voting for no one? I've done it. Felt good too.
Yes that is true...but it just goes to the party in power.
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?
Hey there...Good question I think it has affected my voting...because mandatory voting is in place I've ended up voting for a party I didn't really want to vote for...but having said I have voted for parties that I did want to vote for but that had nothing to do with mandatory voting.
Couldn't you just have spoiled your ballot, effectively voting for no one? I've done it. Felt good too.
Yes that is true...but it just goes to the party in power.
Just another way of having your government control us. This would be a horrible idea.
I certainly don't think mandating participation in the electoral process (or caring about the environment or homelessness or any other issue) is likely to encourage people to sincerely take time to become educated and involved. Maybe Obama is using this as a tactic to raise awareness about the lack of participation in elections. At least people are talking about it more.
You know good and well that just because someone is forced to do something does not mean they will educate themselves on it. Forcing people to vote is just a ploy for those who think that an uneducated voter will for their party. The hot candidate.
People are lazy. Period. And I still don't know how it will be enforced. I've voluntarily not voted in an election before because I didn't like any of the candidates. How in the hell is anyone going to fine me for that? The entire idea is absurd.
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?
Hey there...Good question I think it has affected my voting...because mandatory voting is in place I've ended up voting for a party I didn't really want to vote for...but having said I have voted for parties that I did want to vote for but that had nothing to do with mandatory voting.
Couldn't you just have spoiled your ballot, effectively voting for no one? I've done it. Felt good too.
Yes that is true...but it just goes to the party in power.
How so?
It doesn't go to the party in power per se... Just that by donkey voting you help retain the status quo. Here in oz we have preferential voting which means when we vote for a minor party ie neither the Labor or Liberal parties, that vote is routed to the party the candidate we chose to vote for decides to align with... How's that for supposed democracy?
Mandatory voting becomes an issue in safe seats where it takes sometimes in excess of a 20% swing to out the incumbent. It seems like a waste of time. Also an extreme percentage of eligible voters are so disenfranchised by the whole system that they're not making informed choices at the ballot box. They vote because they have to.... Not a good basis to make a decision imo.
hear my name
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
So under this mandatory voting system would this include people who are or were felons allowed to vote?
Peace
*We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
I guess if someone's served their time, go for it (if that's what you meant re are vs were, g). Someone in prison, serving time? Nope.
(though to be honest, if someone is considered an ex-convict for certain crimes, then to me, they should lose that voice via vote along with their freedom)
I guess if someone's served their time, go for it (if that's what you meant re are vs were, g). Someone in prison, serving time? Nope.
(though to be honest, if someone is considered an ex-convict for certain crimes, then to me, they should lose that voice via vote along with their freedom)
I couldn't remember the specific laws on this so looked it up. Felons are allowed to re-register to vote once free but in two states, Maine and Virginia, felons are allowed to vote from within prison by way of absentee ballot.
It might be interesting to do a poll here to see how people feel about that.
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
Well, for me - not too keen on rapists, kid-lovers and other assorted pillars of community currently serving time having a say in elections.
Do your time, then we'll talk.
Not sure what you mean by that last sentence.
Yeah, I'm good with banning lower level cretins of that ilk from voting. But what about political prisoners or those who are doing time for growing marijuana (there are still felony convictions for that, yes indeed) or other non-victim felonies? Come on, Hedo, surely you don't lump all felons together?
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
Well, for me - not too keen on rapists, kid-lovers and other assorted pillars of community currently serving time having a say in elections.
Do your time, then we'll talk.
Not sure what you mean by that last sentence.
Yeah, I'm good with banning lower level cretins of that ilk from voting. But what about political prisoners or those who are doing time for growing marijuana (there are still felony convictions for that, yes indeed) or other non-victim felonies? Come on, Hedo, surely you don't lump all felons together?
I think she meant that once a convict serves his/her time in jail, then we'll talk about allowing the rapist or sex offender having the right to vote again. Just my take on that sentence.
Well, for me - not too keen on rapists, kid-lovers and other assorted pillars of community currently serving time having a say in elections.
Do your time, then we'll talk.
Not sure what you mean by that last sentence.
Yeah, I'm good with banning lower level cretins of that ilk from voting. But what about political prisoners or those who are doing time for growing marijuana (there are still felony convictions for that, yes indeed) or other non-victim felonies? Come on, Hedo, surely you don't lump all felons together?
I think she meant that once a convict serves his/her time in jail, then we'll talk about allowing the rapist or sex offender having the right to vote again. Just my take on that sentence.
To quote the Fonz, "exactamundo!"
Brian, of course I don't consider non-victim/non-violent offenders the same as child molesters, murderers and the like (hence my first sentence).
Comments
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/guybenson/2014/03/19/fraud-local-nbc-investigation-discovers-dozens-of-illegal-voters-in-florida-n1811547
Any discussion of the issue raises the points people have already made above. One point hasn't been raised here yet, though, is that when the state mandates people voting it also incurs an obligation to make voting as easy and accessible as possible (at least, it should, and the states that have mandatory voting do this). In practice that means that elections are on a weekend or holiday, people can vote in any riding, there are far more polling stations, and polls are brought to locations such as hospitals, nursing homes, etc. (It doesn't look like Australia has electronic voting.)
As for how voters are registered, as asked above - all these other countries have managed it, so I'm sure the US could figure it out.
And Australia only mandates that you show up at the poll. You can apparently feel free to put in a blank ballot, or one which you have spoiled in some way, once you have shown up.
Yes, there is a cost in terms of enforcement. I haven't yet read any breakdown on this, or any major analysis as to how mandatory voting has affected policy, given that there is an assumption that those who are now relatively disenfranchised by poverty, disability, etc. would then be voting in much higher numbers.
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How so?
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People are lazy. Period. And I still don't know how it will be enforced. I've voluntarily not voted in an election before because I didn't like any of the candidates. How in the hell is anyone going to fine me for that? The entire idea is absurd.
You too, Jason.
And am by some sense of great timing, currently digging on Peart, Weinrib and Lifeson telling me about Free Will.
Quite fittingly!
It doesn't go to the party in power per se... Just that by donkey voting you help retain the status quo. Here in oz we have preferential voting which means when we vote for a minor party ie neither the Labor or Liberal parties, that vote is routed to the party the candidate we chose to vote for decides to align with... How's that for supposed democracy?
Mandatory voting becomes an issue in safe seats where it takes sometimes in excess of a 20% swing to out the incumbent. It seems like a waste of time. Also an extreme percentage of eligible voters are so disenfranchised by the whole system that they're not making informed choices at the ballot box. They vote because they have to.... Not a good basis to make a decision imo.
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
Peace
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
(though to be honest, if someone is considered an ex-convict for certain crimes, then to me, they should lose that voice via vote along with their freedom)
It might be interesting to do a poll here to see how people feel about that.
Do your time, then we'll talk.
Yeah, I'm good with banning lower level cretins of that ilk from voting. But what about political prisoners or those who are doing time for growing marijuana (there are still felony convictions for that, yes indeed) or other non-victim felonies? Come on, Hedo, surely you don't lump all felons together?
Brian, of course I don't consider non-victim/non-violent offenders the same as child molesters, murderers and the like (hence my first sentence).