Ever thought about complusory voting?

[flashl]

Vote - or else

As an Australian citizen, I voted in the recent federal election there. So did about 95% of registered Australian voters. That figure contrasts markedly with elections in the United States, where the turnout in the 2004 presidential election barely exceeded 60%. In congressional elections that fall in the middle of a president's term, usually fewer than 40% of eligible Americans bother to vote.

There is a reason why so many Australians vote. In the 1920s, when voter turnout fell below 60%, parliament made voting compulsory. Since then, through governments of varying political complexions, there has been no serious attempt to repeal the law, which polls show is supported by about 70% of the population.

Australians who don't vote receive a letter asking why. Those without an acceptable excuse, like illness or travel abroad, must pay a small fine, but the number fined is less than 1% of eligible voters.

In practice, what is compulsory is not casting a valid vote, but going to the polling place, having one's name checked off, and putting a ballot paper in the box. The secrecy of the ballot makes it impossible to prevent people writing nonsense on their ballot papers or leaving them blank. While the percentage of invalid votes is a little higher where voting is compulsory, it comes nowhere near offsetting the difference in voter turnout.

Compulsory voting is not unique to Australia. Belgium and Argentina introduced it earlier, and it is practiced in many other countries, especially in Latin America, although both sanctions and enforcement vary.

[hootinholler]

1. Yes, I have...

Then while standing in line at a grocery store a woman was remarking on the front page of the tabloids and it occurred to me that we don't want her anywhere near a ballot box.

-Hoot

[conspirator]

2. If they send a cab to pick me up and return me back to my sofa I might consider nt

[flashl]

3. Wouldn't it end the need for candidates to obtain 5 $2,300 donations

every hour, every day. And, stop candidates from needing to barter with bundlers?

[MonkeyFunk]

4. Yes I have

and I've rejected it.

Not voting should be a protected form of speech, too.

[WhollyHeretic]

5. I think election day needs to be a national holiday

[MiniMe]

6. For the most part, those that don't care enough to vote are not familiar

enough with the issues to cast an intelligent vote. I don't want some yokels who don't take the time to look at the issues so they go with what the minister said in church.

[Mountainman]

7. Let's have less freedom and more compulsory what ever?

[CK_John]

8. Is this a state issue or a fed issue? We need to know this in order put a plan in place. n/t

[Freddie Stubbs]

9. Who here thinks it is a good idea to force those who care the least to

have a greater say in government?

[flashl]

11. Isn't thats what push / pull polling and TV ads are about?

Finding a wedge issue to 'force' a voter to the polls or 'force' a voter to stay home?

[RB TexLa]

10. First election would be won by the candidate vowing to end compulsory voting

or we would end up with many many more actors elected. Like the people who will vote for Fred Thompson because they think he's done such a good job "puttin dem criminals away in New York."