They're not voting because...
- Because it is not mandatory, make it...
Because it is not mandatory, make it mandatory and I'll vote. With a 100% turnout no one "party" would ever get a majority and it would force electoral reform ... which of course why they won't do it!
written 3rd May 2005
Responses
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Jeffrey replies: Its mandatory in some countries. And I think we could still get majority in our archaic first past the post system. They wouldn't do it because of all those people who feel forced to vote will vote against the party that did that to them.
written 3rd May 2005 -
Andy P replies: If you make voting mandatory, you get two problems.
written 3rd May 2005
1 - Enforcement. Think of the time and money that could be wasted chasing after people who hadn't voted.
2 - Apathy. If people don't want to vote, and you force them to vote, many will protest by casting a deliberately silly vote. Two possibilities follow. Either they vote for candidates with no chance - in which case, they may as well have not voted. Or, their joke candidate gets elected despite having no serious policies. I don't see how this will improve the quality of government. -
Descartes replies: I think that a major step forward in UK politics would be achieved if voting was compulsory - but only if the voting list allowed you to select "none of the above". This would really bring home to politicians that the real world actually starts as you walk OUT of Westminster and leave the "Yes - men" behind.
written 3rd May 2005
Descates -
Max replies: I might be sympathetic to the idea of compulsory voting if it was also compulsory for all the parties standing to have equal access to the means of communication to state their case. In other words, a level playing field. As it stands, the largest parties or those with a benefactor with a large cheque book can muster up 50 candidates to entitle them to a 5 minute Party Election Broadcast. In fact, it usually works out at about 3-1/2 minutes.
written 3rd May 2005
This means that the electorate are denied the opportunity to make an informed decision to vote for, or against, a candidate. -
Tiger43 replies: Absolutely, gunshot voting!!
written 4th May 2005 -
Alex replies: What a stupid post! "Please force me to vote."
Why don't you just go and vote and pretend someone forced you to?
Compulsory voting gives far too much importance to politicians and their farcical government. Worse stil, it deprives us of one of the most fundamental democratic rights. The right to turn our noses up at this ugly sham and register our disapproval of the whole system,
written 4th May 2005 -
tiger43 replies: I forgot to mention that sex would be offered to anyone willing to vote.
written 4th May 2005 -
shoogle replies: It's an odd one... I think that a lot of people actually vote WHILST being apathetic about the whole affair.
What would the apathetic do if ordered to vote?
Vote, of course; it's the path of least resistance.
Would (or do) the votes of those who don't actually give a monkey's present a mandate to govern them?
Why don't we force everyone to have an opinion on the matter too?
Compulsory voting shouldn't happen because it would force people into partaking in something they really didn't ask to be part of.
It couldn't happen in an open society (though God knows where one of those is) because it gives lie to the whole ludicrous system.
It won't happen here because nobody could tell how the missing 40 odd percent will vote.And tell Tiger43 I'd like a job as a polling clerk when that system comes to town....
written 6th May 2005
