What if voting was mandatory?

[Angel Calzadilla]

After all, United States of America is going nowhere. I am telling you. Is going nowhere !!!

[oz in SC]

Originally Posted by twista6002

Being forced to vote defeats the whole purpose of being a free nation. I have the right not to vote as much as I do to vote.

You mean like paying taxes is voluntary?

[oz in SC]

Originally Posted by Angel Calzadilla

If vote was mandatory, then there is no a true democracy.

Australia...as already mentioned.

[oz in SC]

Originally Posted by Frozenyo

..and you agree that everybody should be forced to pay for the military. What's the difference?

So you would support mandatory voting...right?

[oz in SC]

Originally Posted by Arjay51

If voting were to be made mandatory, then who you were allowed to vote for would be next (even more than now).

This would end any pretext of freedom. You would have a political system similar to N Korea and Venezuela.

Or Australia...it is quite amazing how ignorant of other nations political systems Americans are....

[oz in SC]

Originally Posted by TKramar

Let them put "None of the above" on the ballot if they do that, and we'll send a message.

Low voter turnout also sends a message about a lack of confidence in the candidates offered. It's a "no-confidence" vote.

Actually low turnout is just what the two parties love...and you can write in a candidate here I believe so that would be a 'none of the above' vote.

[oz in SC]

Originally Posted by danielsa1775

Well comming from Australia where voting is mandatory i dont see any issues.

We just have to show up to a polling booth and get your name ticked off you are then issued with a ballot paper. Writing in and ticking a none of the above box is an option, as is screwing it up and putting it in the bin. The fact is very few people do this however and almost everyone submits a valid vote.

One thing compulsory voting does seems to achieve is it makes a much larger % of the population interested in politics and the people who govern their country.

Well...the underlined and bolded portion of your reply is probably the EXACT reason a lot of people are opposed to it...

Ignorant people are more easily swayed.

[Peggy Anne]

if they MADE us vote...just write in Gumby

[oz in SC]

Yup....so what drives the fear of making voting mandatory,perhaps it is the idea expressed by danielsa1775???

One thing compulsory voting does seems to achieve is it makes a much larger % of the population interested in politics and the people who govern their country.

[TKramar]

Originally Posted by oz in SC

Actually low turnout is just what the two parties love...and you can write in a candidate here I believe so that would be a 'none of the above' vote.

I don't support the system as it is set up. As our government is based on "consent of the governed", I never want to do anything that would give my consent. Picking a write-in candidate, like Mickey Mouse, would show that I would support that candidate having a right to govern.