I live in Australia and yes we have compulsory voting for Federal General elections and state elections and local council elections and it works . We elect who we as a majority vote in and there is no argument as to the legitimacy of the government or the process . We don't have any one saying the vote is rigged we have a smooth transfer of power backed by a majority vote of the people . Our voting system is a little different we have preferential voting we have a prime minister our figurehead head of state is the King represented by the governor general but we have a Federal system just as you have in America . Speaking for myself I feel it is my duty to vote at election time , I get to have my say but I accept the outcome because I love my country most of all .
Mandatory voting only means that you have received and lodged your ballot, you are not obliged to fill out the ballot if you don’t want to . Used in conjunction with preference voting and a respected independent electoral commission appears to overcome a lot of issues seen in countries such as the USA and UK. Is it a perfect system, No, but a lot better than the dysfunctional US system. Maybe the Australian system works well as we are more pragmatic in our outlook and how our voting / political systems work is taught in schools.
No. I live in belgium. It does noting for the system. Forcing people to vote leads to votes being mainly protests, leading to more and more splits in the population and getting us no government for ages when they cant find an accord. The system doesnt work, we all know that, but forcing people to do it is idiotic.
An elected legislature can tramples a man's right as easily as a king can -patriot Honestly who gives a shit if people don't vote it's a right you can choose to or not your choice honestly it's ridiculously of you choose one side or another you get hated but if you choose neither your hated by both. People don't vote because it's simply policital drama that takes your time away from more better things to do Because politics are exceedingly boring. Take it what you will it's my opinion which this is america you have an opinion and freedom of speech to say whatever you like.
@@engagementengagement8836 Not having an opinion is a right. Maybe you don't support any of the candidates. As Americans, we should be grateful we have the privilige to vote, but we shouldn't hastily give our votes to candidates we don't actually support.
@@engagementengagement8836 Democracy is simply mob rule and is a good part of what is ruining America. People who have no understanding of economic theory and who are historically illiterate should be encouraged NOT to vote.
When people say "I didn't vote for Biden." But you didn't vote for Trump. Not voting is a vote for the other. But people that don't vote atm are likely to vote democrat.
It's interesting that there is this pursuit to make one right as easy as possible to obtain in voting by another right is difficult as possible with guns.
Yes but people should also have the right to vote against someone/everyone, against voting itself, blank vote, AND not voting all as a choice of vote plus everything above must be accounts in the results (no like in france were blank vote is just ignored)
First - Why would we have voter registration if everyone is required? You are public policy experts, the government knows we exist and can send ballots as needed. This and "making voting easier for marginalized groups" were the only supporting policies you could come up for universal duty voting? Why start that discussion at all if you will not address important subjects such as the institutional strength of political parties, the effect of money in politics, the founding father's intent to prevent a democracy in the first place and the general mistrust that already exists towards democracy and all governmental institutions? Second - There is no proven causal effect or even correlation between the percentage of voters in a country and support for its elected government. The same arguments against democratic processes exist and they are more robust because you can't excuse the effects of corruption by saying 'well not everyone got to vote'. It seems like you are building a straw man rather than defending democracy. Third - Rather than Universal Civic Duty Voting why not have Universal Civit Duty education? HKS is supposed to be the best institution for civic education yet it lives in the country that elected... well...it could do more. Wealthy universities could do more. Why not spend time with initiatives that contribute to public education of democratic systems that work, are peru, brazil, australia,... good examples of democracies?
I see your comment on about voter registration we here in Australia if we register on the voting roll then we are meant to cast a vote although some attend get their names ticked off and vote informal by spoiling their ballot papers but in the main we get a big turn out and we get who we vote for . Yes there are times you really don't like any candidates but you find the best Of the bunch . If you participate in the process you have had your say Win or lose but if you do not then you hardly have a leg to stand on when you criticise the winner . If you participate in voting you could be the difference between someone winning or losing .
Given the fact that those who control our country aren't ever on the ballot, it's absurd to even consider mandatory voting. I for one am done with the two party paradigm. Two sides of the same coin. I would be embarrassed to call myself a republican or democrat. Perhaps a better question is how to bring back a free press and real journalism. Because what we have now is a broken clown world.
Voting should be exclusive to ONLY those who contribute to society. If you’re on any type of welfare system you do not have the right to make any decisions. The problem is when candidates offered FREE material and services to those, that is what is driving them to the polls NOT real issues.
I totally agree with you. I think that in order to vote people should be required to pass a test on US history and government, and they should pay a fee to vote.
@@clintfowler1526 Elections cost money. Since I've never voted in my life I don't like the fact that my tax dollars finance elections. People who vote should pay a fee to cover that cost. When you said, "Join these guys," and showed the ghost emoji, I assume you meant the KKK. I think everyone should pay a fee to vote, not just Black people or any particular race. Everyone should pay the fee to vote.
oh, we SO need to do this in the united states. we truly need input from EVERYBODY when it comes to making societal decisions, and if people need to be forced to do the right thing, well, so be it. 💕
Yeah I agree that it would be ideal if everyone had an opinion, but it would be completely illogical to force people to vote for issues and candidates they don't care about or support.
