It seems to me that a mandatory voting requirement is the very antithesis of a free and democratic society. Maybe not.
I think "Maybe not".
In order to work, a free and democratic society requires that all the participants do some things and don't do others. When a person does something they should not do, there's a consequence…fines, incarceration, whatever.
It seems to me that, when a person does not do something they should do, there should also be a consequence. Getting to "consequence" begins with formalizing the requirement. e.g. Mandatory voting.
Australia seems to have found a good compromise( introduced in 1924). In their compulsory voting system, failure to vote results in a fine. They have experienced a decent rise in participation but it's not 100% because about 5% of their citizens choose to pay the fine rather than vote.
Last edited by ryck; 08/09/1601:33 PM.
ryck
"What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits" The Doobie Brothers
