Several people (including me) made the point that they worry that mandatory voting would increase the chance that "uneducated" voters are voting randomly. Doing a little more looking into this, I see that there is some evidence to suggest that those who don't vote aren't necessarily less "educated" or less interested in politics or the issues at hand; rather, they just tend to be less convinced of the value of the system of voting, or more specifically less convinced that their vote makes any difference. Some comments made on this forum or even in this thread make me think this may be true. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
Several people (including me) made the point that they worry that mandatory voting would increase the chance that "uneducated" voters are voting randomly. Doing a little more looking into this, I see that there is some evidence to suggest that those who don't vote aren't necessarily less "educated" or less interested in politics or the issues at hand; rather, they just tend to be less convinced of the value of the system of voting, or more specifically less convinced that their vote makes any difference. Some comments made on this forum or even in this thread make me think this may be true. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
I think it's true. The people I know who don't vote, do so because they feel that either side is "raping" them and voting is giving consent.
Not being an American, I can't say I have any first hand information as to whether it is in fact true that your pool of potential candidates is small. Is it really only a choice of two "sides"? Are there independents, or other parties of other candidates, running? (Granted, they would have little real chance of being elected in the current system). I do know that in every election I've voted in in Canada there has been a whole raft of candidates, from the major parties to the really fringe guys. One guy in our last municipal election ran for mayor in every municipality in the southern Vancouver Island (12 or so) - didn't get more than a handful of votes in any riding, but still. There are also serious candidates running as independents, or Green party, etc. In fact, my MP is the sole Green Party member of parliament. Perhaps that range of choice is why I don't see it as an imposition to contemplate mandatory voting.
my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
I really don't know how loud my written voice/vote is. My view is sometimes optimistic, sometimes cynical - but, I do vote every time (absentee), to the extent of how informed I am on the candidate, initiative, etc.
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2016: Lexington and Wrigley 1