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View Full Version : Is 'Compulsory Voting' The Answer?




Matt Collins
06-17-2010, 01:08 PM
http://www.npr.org/blogs/politicaljunkie/2010/06/01/127348895/is-compulsory-voting-the-answer

LittleLightShining
06-17-2010, 01:13 PM
Haven't listened but I think there should be a quorum in each voting district.

phill4paul
06-17-2010, 01:15 PM
No.

MRoCkEd
06-17-2010, 01:15 PM
No. How about you can't vote if you are a government employee or receive any type of government assistance?


But I definitely like this idea:

- Remove the party label from the ballot so people can't just vote straight ticket without knowing the candidates.

And I would consider:

- Let anyone on the ballot for a small fee, and then pick the top X vote getters, and keep eliminating the bottom vote getters until we're down to the final 2.
- Have no choices on the ballot - Make everyone write in the candidate. Must meet one of the accepted spellings of the person's name. :p

Krugerrand
06-17-2010, 01:16 PM
He is encouraged by the Australian system that that imposes a penalty — anywhere from $20 to $70 — on those who don't vote.

I'd rather see a fee to vote than a fine for not voting. At the very least (if given the current income tax situation) you must file a tax return to vote - even if you have no income.

Why give the apathetic a greater voice?

specsaregood
06-17-2010, 01:18 PM
But I definitely like this idea:
- Remove the party label from the ballot so people can't just vote straight ticket without knowing the candidates.

A judge recently ruled that was racist and forced a jurisdiction to put the party label on the ballot.

MRoCkEd
06-17-2010, 01:19 PM
Racist... haha

nate895
06-17-2010, 01:20 PM
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Krugerrand
06-17-2010, 01:22 PM
Of course, if the question is "What is something that would make our country worse than it is right now?" then the answer to the OP would definitely be YES!

specsaregood
06-17-2010, 01:23 PM
Racist... haha

I'm not joking.

Danke
06-17-2010, 01:24 PM
Yes, the more absurd statutes I can break, the better. Maybe more and more people will eventually wake up.

dmitchell
06-17-2010, 01:26 PM
Compulsory anything is not the answer to our problems.

specsaregood
06-17-2010, 01:26 PM
//

sailingaway
06-17-2010, 01:27 PM
mandatory voting would only be necessary in an illegitimate government.

ClayTrainor
06-17-2010, 01:28 PM
More voting isn't a rational answer to any of today's problems.

tangent4ronpaul
06-17-2010, 01:31 PM
I think you would get a lot of clueless voters voting for people they were not familiar with. Maybe if a summary of there platform was attached?

Otherwise, people with a last name starting near or at A would win, or those with "trustworthy" names like "honor".

Putting a photo on each name would turn it into a beauty contest.

Incumbents / former politicians that have held another office should have their voting record posted in the voting booth.

A better solution might be voting by platform. Do you like this take on the issue? - then tally to see who they are closest to.

I remember a variation of voting where you voted for first choice, second choice, etc. - it worked out so that people could vote for who they liked best in first place, and who they thought could win as a second, etc. Lower places would serve as negative votes.

-t

MRoCkEd
06-17-2010, 01:34 PM
I did exit polling for a primary election, and many people who voted said they left the question blank or chose randomly for US Senate because "they didn't know about any of the candidates." And these are the people who showed up at the polls!