Is mandatory voting good idea ?

13

Comments

  • i_lov_it
    i_lov_it Perth, Western Australia Posts: 4,007
    edited March 2015
    NO I would not support a mandatory system
    hedonist said:

    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.
    Post edited by i_lov_it on
  • i_lov_it
    i_lov_it Perth, Western Australia Posts: 4,007
    edited March 2015
    NO I would not support a mandatory system
    callen said:

    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?
    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.
    Post edited by i_lov_it on
  • HughFreakingDillon
    HughFreakingDillon Winnipeg Posts: 39,969
    NO I would not support a mandatory system
    i_lov_it said:

    hedonist said:

    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.

    Your boos mean nothing to me, for I have seen what makes you cheer



  • i_lov_it
    i_lov_it Perth, Western Australia Posts: 4,007
    edited March 2015
    NO I would not support a mandatory system
    HughFreakingDillon said:

    i_lov_it said:

    hedonist said:

    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.
    Post edited by i_lov_it on
  • HughFreakingDillon
    HughFreakingDillon Winnipeg Posts: 39,969
    NO I would not support a mandatory system
    i_lov_it said:

    HughFreakingDillon said:

    i_lov_it said:

    hedonist said:

    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?

    Your boos mean nothing to me, for I have seen what makes you cheer



  • Last-12-Exit
    Last-12-Exit Charleston, SC Posts: 8,661
    NO I would not support a mandatory system
    Just another way of having your government control us. This would be a horrible idea.
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,732
    edited March 2015
    Fail.

    Post edited by brianlux on
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Last-12-Exit
    Last-12-Exit Charleston, SC Posts: 8,661
    NO I would not support a mandatory system
    brianlux said:

    Last-12-Exit said:

    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.
  • Jason P
    Jason P Posts: 19,360
    Is it mandatory that I vote in this poll?
    Be Excellent To Each Other
    Party On, Dudes!
  • mookeywrench
    mookeywrench Posts: 6,085
    NO I would not support a mandatory system
    I think too many people vote as it is.
  • oftenreading
    oftenreading Victoria, BC Posts: 12,856
    YES I would support a mandatory voting system
    mookeywrench said:

    I think too many people vote as it is.

    Here's one vote for the benign dictatorship!
    my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    mookeywrench said:

    I think too many people vote as it is.

    Have missed your input here lately, mookey.

    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!
  • catefrances
    catefrances Posts: 29,003
    HughFreakingDillon said:

    i_lov_it said:

    HughFreakingDillon said:

    i_lov_it said:

    hedonist said:

    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
  • g under p
    g under p Surfing The far side of THE Sombrero Galaxy Posts: 18,242
    YES I would support a mandatory voting system
    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)


  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    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)
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,732
    hedonist said:

    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.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    edited March 2015
    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.
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,732
    hedonist said:

    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?

    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Last-12-Exit
    Last-12-Exit Charleston, SC Posts: 8,661
    NO I would not support a mandatory system
    brianlux said:

    hedonist said:

    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.
  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    Last-12-Exit said:

    brianlux said:

    hedonist said:

    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).

Categories