ChatterBank2 mins ago
Compulsory Voting?
24 Answers
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surely it's undemocratic, how can it not be? You're damn well going to have democracy whether you want it or not! Only Australians can think that is democracy!
surely it's undemocratic, how can it not be? You're damn well going to have democracy whether you want it or not! Only Australians can think that is democracy!
Answers
I personally don't agree with the concept of compulsory voting. To my mind, the essence of democracy is choice, and that means an individual choice whether to vote or not. With the freedom to choose, you get an accurate picture of what the electorate wants, and that includes not being bothered enough to vote at all. Forcing people to vote encourages people to...
15:57 Tue 26th Apr 2022
I personally don't agree with the concept of compulsory voting.
To my mind, the essence of democracy is choice, and that means an individual choice whether to vote or not.
With the freedom to choose, you get an accurate picture of what the electorate wants, and that includes not being bothered enough to vote at all.
Forcing people to vote encourages people to simply stick a cross anywhere, because they are being forced into a process in which they have no real interest.
That leads to a distortion of the voting intentions of people who vote because they wish to, and defeats the object of a vote in the first place.
To my mind, the essence of democracy is choice, and that means an individual choice whether to vote or not.
With the freedom to choose, you get an accurate picture of what the electorate wants, and that includes not being bothered enough to vote at all.
Forcing people to vote encourages people to simply stick a cross anywhere, because they are being forced into a process in which they have no real interest.
That leads to a distortion of the voting intentions of people who vote because they wish to, and defeats the object of a vote in the first place.
they are still free to spoil ballot papers, and many do.
Strictly speaking it's not compulsory voting. Nobody stands over you to ensure you've placed a cross. All they can do is ensure you have a voting paper in your hand. Compared with the US Deep South methods of ensuring black people do not have voting papers in their hand, this seems much preferable.
Plus Aussies use it as an excuse to get together for democracy sausages
https:/
Strictly speaking it's not compulsory voting. Nobody stands over you to ensure you've placed a cross. All they can do is ensure you have a voting paper in your hand. Compared with the US Deep South methods of ensuring black people do not have voting papers in their hand, this seems much preferable.
Plus Aussies use it as an excuse to get together for democracy sausages
https:/
jno - // Strictly speaking it's not compulsory voting. Nobody stands over you to ensure you've placed a cross. All they can do is ensure you have a voting paper in your hand. //
That's true, but it flies in the face of choice, which is a cornerstone of democracy.
If you are going to force everyone to do something against their will, you are never going to be able to use logical debate to encourage people to be involved in the democratic process, and actually care about who governs them.
That's true, but it flies in the face of choice, which is a cornerstone of democracy.
If you are going to force everyone to do something against their will, you are never going to be able to use logical debate to encourage people to be involved in the democratic process, and actually care about who governs them.
I think the problem with our current political system is that a donkey could win in some seats if it had the right coloured rosette. I think a lot of people are completely turned off and this allows those elected to believe they have a (sometimes huge) mandate, when the truth is far from that. For example, 60% of the vote (huge!) on a 40% turnout (not unusual) is 24%.
Forcing people to vote, now and again at least, would show just what people thought of politics and politicians for a fact.
Forcing people to vote, now and again at least, would show just what people thought of politics and politicians for a fact.
Ellipsis - // Forcing people to vote, now and again at least, would show just what people thought of politics and politicians for a fact. //
It doesn't though.
You can force people to go through the motions, but you can't force them to indicate their views on either the candidates, or the system they are forced to experience.
Only free will can ever truly indicate opinions in an election, and that includes the right simply not to turn up.
Or to turn up and vote for 'any of them because they are all the same aren't they?'
It's a flawed system, because no free will system can be flawless, but it beats forcing people against their will any day of the week.
It doesn't though.
You can force people to go through the motions, but you can't force them to indicate their views on either the candidates, or the system they are forced to experience.
Only free will can ever truly indicate opinions in an election, and that includes the right simply not to turn up.
Or to turn up and vote for 'any of them because they are all the same aren't they?'
It's a flawed system, because no free will system can be flawless, but it beats forcing people against their will any day of the week.
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