Compulsory voting

[slimD]

If we didn't have to vote, there would be a govt by now. Why? Because people who want to vote actually vote. People who don't give a shit wouldn't bother. this alone would weed out the wheat from the chaff.
Why are we in such good company with every dictatorship which has "compulsory voting"?

[J.W. Frogen]

Whats up der Mr. D?

I don't like compulsory voting either, it insures the lazy have too much representation.

What a minute, let me get back to you on that one.

[freediver]

I think it is a good thing.

From a perspective of self interest, voting is irrational. So, if you make it optional, only the irrational vote. It is good to force the rational people to vote also.

Voting should be seen as a responsibility, not just as a right.

Also, it means politicians focus on debating over the middle ground, not on preaching to the converted and motivational speeches for the extremists.

[boxy]

Also, it means politicians focus on debating over the middle ground, not on preaching to the converted and motivational speeches for the extremists.

So that's why US elections are such a cheerleading wankfest? Millions upon millions of dollars spend on political conventions that do nothing to convert/convince people of their ability to govern, but only to convince those who already think their way of the importance of voting at all.

[J.W. Frogen]

There is a lot in that Boxy, during most US Presidential elections it is critical to fire up the base support and get them to turn out in order to win. Because US political parties are not as ideologically disciplined as parliamentary parties (there are few penalties for voting with the opposing party and US parties are usually divided between ideological wings as well, for instance Blue Dog Democrats tend to vote with the Republicans on many issues) the conventions are needed to attempt to unify the party at least for the election.

So they tend to be cheerleading festivals that attempt not to offend any block of the party and get the faithful out in large numbers.

[mantra]

I think it is a good thing.

From a perspective of self interest, voting is irrational. So, if you make it optional, only the irrational vote. It is good to force the rational people to vote also.

Voting should be seen as a responsibility, not just as a right.

Also, it means politicians focus on debating over the middle ground, not on preaching to the converted and motivational speeches for the extremists.

It's hard to tell - some people don't have a clue who or what they're voting for. I heard a woman on election day asking her friend what they were doing there as we already had a primeminister and why did we need another one? Her friend didn't know either.

Mark Latham probably gave some good advice as far as sorting out the idiots. I think there were about 16,000 informal votes, but the papers were littered with lewd drawings and scribble.

[Super Nova]

Compuslsory voting and the high voter turn out in Aust is a great thing.

It is a duty to vote if you want to live in a democracy and Australia is very strong one. If it isn’t broken why try and fix it. It works for Australia. Do you want to see in the situation like the US of A where you go out and get all the minorities who have been dispossessed to vote to cause a change in voting demographics to make change. No, everyone should vote in every election so their vote is heard each time. Voting is a right for all not just for the elite or those who seek to have an opinion heard. Everyone has the right for their opinion to be heard.

The bit that pisses me off is getting fined for not voting. I guess there needs to be a consequence when something is mandatory but it is a hassle for those who can not vote for legitimate reasons.

Keep the mandatory voting…. Keep Australia strong.

Stupid people follow the herd anyway so are their votes really statistically relevant? I would argue “not”.

[Ned Kelly]

Voting is a right for all not just for the elite or those who seek to have an opinion heard. Everyone has the right for their opinion to be heard.

Except here, at PA.

[IQSRLOW]

Pity we don't have assasination

[Outlaw Yogi]

I don't vote because its compulsory and one cannot be a true anti-establishmentarian if one does as they are told, and I don't want characters I have contempt for to be given tax dollar$ for primary votes.

Before I joined the Greens I didn't vote for 10 or more years despite being brought up in a very active ALP family and only went on the roll because it was a condition of joining the Greens.
When at Sylvania in Sydney the Census mob put me on the roll. Aprox 3 & 1/2 years later I was living at Bankstown when relatives living in the Sylvania abode passed on letters from the Electoral Commission.

The first was a $25 fine for failing to vote, informing me of what a big favour they were doing me by not fining me $50.
I ignored it.
The second was a 'Reminder failure to vote' fine.
I ignored it.
The third was a registerd letter titled 'Notice of possible prosecution' for failing to vote.
It had a section where one could give reason for not voting which Electoral Commission bureaucunts would assess.

I wrote ..
"I did not vote because I have no faith or trust in any of the political candidates or parties on offer
, an informal vote is pointless, so why waste my time?

I won't pay a fine and I won't go to court.
I doubt you could gaol me for not voting, so get fucked."


I never heard another word about it.