Should Election Voting Be Mandatory?

[Minnesota!]

I voted yes because I am sick and tired of people NOT voting and then *****ing about the government. If you didn't do anything to try and change it - shut your mouth. It is pathetic to see empty polls on election day. The people who REALLY need a voice are the ones who DON"T vote - the poor, the disabled, the wheelchair bound. I think that if they were forced to choose someone to speak for them, there would be change!

Local elections are even worse. Here in MN - the mayors of St. Paul and Mpls - elections are next week. I guarantee turn out will stink! And then people will whine that "Chris Coleman sucks" - well, damnit - you should have voted. Randy Kelly might have won,then..

Sorry to ramble. I just get pissy at these people who don't exercise their rights.

 

[mom2boys]

Absolutely not!

Voters need to educate themselves in order to make an informed decision at the polls.

 

[Holly]

If it were to be mandatory, the voters should have to take a short course about politics. So many people are uninformed voters in this country, they have no clue what they are supporting.

 

[mtblujeans]

Interesting thread here - I am an Australian so I can you give my viewpoint on the matter.

One thing to keep in mind: voting itself is not actually mandatory. Showing up to the polling booth and getting your name ticked off IS. So, one could conceivably show up and then write 'all politicians are crap' on their ballot and no one would be any the wiser.

This may seem like a strange system, but I think the idea is that, by making voting mandatory, they will get more people to think about their vote, instead of just having the passionate ideologues turn up to vote. Not everyone is going to be informed, but I would hope that if one has to vote, one would at least have a look at the issues and make a decision on that. While it does have the disadvantage that some uninformed people end up voting, this is really no different to anywhere else - just that the numbers may end up being magnified

I'm not sure that the principle of it is undemocratic, per se, in fact it's sort of paradoxical - force people to vote so that the true will of the people is seen! Having said that, because there are a great many people who wish to see Australia become a republic before long, this system may well change.

THANKS! I appreciate your input and clarification!

 

[ladycollector]

Heck no!!

 

[Brianne]

No.

I'd be too concerned about getting the wrong people put in office simply because enough people decided to play "eenie meenie" with the choices instead of being informed. I could really see it happening that way!

In a slightly different vein, I wish they'd make voting easier. Not everyone has the luxury of standing in line for 3-4 hours to vote (like we had to do last year)--yes, I believe it's required that employers must give time off to vote (? someone correct me if I'm wrong here!), but I'd imagine it's seriously frowned upon for many people due to the time required to be away.

Online voting, voting over a couple day period? I won't vote absentee because I'm not convinced they're counted.

 

[Daxx]

No, but I think that COMPLAINING about the government when you don't vote ought to be banned.

Well, you're almost there -- not only should it be banned, but those who do it (complain w/o voting) should be the ones who are fined!!! You complain and you didn't vote? Automatic fine!! I wonder how many people would either (a) keep their mouth shut or (b) get out and vote if they fined you for complaining w/o voting!!!

 

[roger_ramjet]

No.

I'd be too concerned about getting the wrong people put in office simply because enough people decided to play "eenie meenie" with the choices instead of being informed. I could really see it happening that way!

In a slightly different vein, I wish they'd make voting easier. Not everyone has the luxury of standing in line for 3-4 hours to vote (like we had to do last year)--yes, I believe it's required that employers must give time off to vote (? someone correct me if I'm wrong here!), but I'd imagine it's seriously frowned upon for many people due to the time required to be away.

Online voting, voting over a couple day period? I won't vote absentee because I'm not convinced they're counted.

I don't see why they don't do it on the weekend. That's how they did it in Australia - plus they had polling booths all over the place, so one could literally walk in, sign your name off and then go and vote. This weird Tuesday tradition is really a bit problematic, and for no good reason.

 

[Brianne]

I don't see why they don't do it on the weekend. That's how they did it in Australia - plus they had polling booths all over the place, so one could literally walk in, sign your name off and then go and vote. This weird Tuesday tradition is really a bit problematic, and for no good reason.

Now that makes perfect sense, all the way around. Our assigned polling place wasn't anywhere nearby either (about 15 minutes away in another town!), which made no sense.

Maybe someone can dig up the Tuesday thing, because I'd really like to know why it's on a Tuesday. I'd like a weekend option myself, although ultimately I'd prefer online voting if they could figure out how to secure it.

 

[Sparx]

No, no, no, a million times no!

 

[Daxx]

Maybe someone can dig up the Tuesday thing, because I'd really like to know why it's on a Tuesday.

I don't know why election night is on a Tues. and I'm too lazy to look it up. However, I can tell you that every time we have an election, it rains. I am sure that's why many don't go out to vote -- esp. older folks. Who wants to go out in the cold November rain?!?!

They ought to hold this in May when the weather is nice and not too hot!!!!