This house would make voting compulsory

In many countries around the world individuals are free to choose to vote or not to vote,
while in other countries (Australia, a couple cantons in Switzerland, Belgium and Singapore ,
for example) it is compulsory for citizens to vote. Punishment for non-voting can vary from
a $15 fine to the possible deprivation of government services or the freezing of one's bank
account. Is this a violation of an individuals freedom of choice? With the citizens of many
countries fighting for their right to vote, is it right that US voting turnout hovers around 50
60%of registered voters
1
? Should voting be seen as a duty or a right? This debate explores
whether compulsory voting improves voter participation, increases voter awareness on key
political issues, and reduces the powers of special interest groups.
1. US Census Bureau.

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Points For
Points Against
Persuasion is more effective than coercion
Point
Forcing people into voting when they are disengaged from the politic process will exacerbate
this problem; no one likes doing something simply because they have to. The election results
from compulsory voting may not be a representative view of society, than the current
systems. Just because people are required to vote does not mean they become more politically
engaged than they were before.
Rather than forcing people to vote, more should be done to engage the public in political life.
Government transparency should be further encouraged as well as evaluating to what extent
the current voting system causes low voter turnout.
Low turnout is best cured by more education. Instead of trying to engage people by force,
how about introducing political education in schools and encouraging political conversation.
How about educating the public on how politics affects them?
Citizenship classes should be taught to students who are approaching voting age, as it would
teach the importance of the electoral process, and the history of the suffragette movement, the
reform bills of the 19th century and the responsibilities of living in a democracy.
The government should be trying to engage people by other means, not compulsory voting.
Compulsory voting may improve low turnout but will not affect the root problem- what
people actually think about politics. In essence it is just relieving the side effects without
curing the disease.


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Counterpoint
As noted elsewhere, forced attendance would lead to increased political awareness, and an
abstention option would offer a 'none of the above'/'I don't mind or care' choice instead of
people spoiling the ballot.
Because the number of voters would increase, politicians would have to be active in engaging
with the public and therefore become "more deserving of the public's trust".
Citizenship classes doesn't negate the need for compulsory voting but should be used in
conjunction to compulsory voting.
If people are genuinely not interested in voting or politics, educating them in school would
not change that fact. Compulsory voting would force those parts of the population who are
usually disinterested to voice some form of opinion- created a more balanced democracy.

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Policing and financing the system is unmanageable
Point
If a large proportion of the population decided not to vote it would be impossible to make
every non-voter pay the fine. For example, if just 10% of the UK voters failed to do so the
government would have to chase up about 4 million in fines. Even if they sent demand
letters to all these people, they could not take all those who refused to pay to court. Ironically,
this measure hurts most those who the proposition are trying to enfranchise because they are
least able to pay.
The cost of policing this system will impact upon tax payers. The Government will need to
expand and more civil servants positions will be needed to create, administer and enforce the
processes. It is especially prudent that we look closely at the impact it would have financially
on individual countries. For example, the US has more than ten times the voting population
of Australia the financial cost for the two nations is vastly different. Since it costs the
Australian government roughly five dollars for every ballot they evaluate, the greater number
of voters in America would exponentially increase bureaucratic costs".
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1
Iowaprodigal
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Counterpoint
Because mandatory voting means that no large campaign funds are needed to goad voters to
the polls, the role of money in politics will decrease. Compulsory voting will reduce spending
such as campaign spending on voter turnout. It can also lead to a reduction in the incentive
for negative advertising as there is little to be gained from tactics aimed purely at persuading
opposition voters to stay at home
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.
States that sanction fines usually sanction a very low fine, which even the poorest members
can afford. Besides, government like the British seem to manage speeding fines just fine,
there is no reason to think they wouldnt be able to manage non-voting fines. However, other
measures such as disenfranchisement (Belgium) and denial of public services (Peru, Greece)
can be used, which dont incur a cost for the individual.
1
Electoral Reform Society
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There are alternatives that tackle the real causes of voter disengagement
Point
Compulsory voting hides the problem which is causing people to be disengaged from
politics; it allows politicians to ignore measures that can tackle the true causes of political
disengagement.
States instead should seek on strategies that will eliminate barriers to voting along with
reducing the costs of turnout for its citizens, weekend voting, making election days a holiday,
simple registration procedures, reforms such as to the party finance rules to widen the playing
field, and the creation of a centralized, professional bureaucracy concerned with all aspects of
election administration. In the UK, for example, adopting a more proportional system will
allow for a political spectrum rather than the three major parties that currently dominate.

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Counterpoint
The benefits obtained from compulsory voting cannot be gained from any of the strategies
mentioned by the opposition. Compulsory voting can enhance a sense of community, as
everyone is in it together. This can be especially helpful in bringing new people in to
community life. It also forces the silent majority to think about elections which safeguards
from extremism.
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