Many people there like it, that does not mean it "works well".

Many people like gun control, but that does not "work well".

Many people like the War on drugs, but that does not "work well".

Well it does seem to work well doesn't it, the political parties are able to put their efforts into explaining their policies, people are getting involved in politics and people do support it. Show me how it's not working well.

__________________
Trust me, I'm a socialist!

There's power in a factory,power in the land, power in the hand of the worker. But it all amounts to nothing if together we don't stand, there is power in a union.
The union forever defending our rights, down with the blackleg, workers unite. To our brothers and our sisters in many far off lands, there is power in a union.
Money speaks for money, the devil for his own. - Billy Bragg

It does not seem like it works to me. I think choice is a better system. I think candidates should just explain policy regardless. I went over the problems I have with it. After which I asked why it was good. The only good answer I got was the it increased time the candidates spent on policy.

What happens if you don't vote?

I asked that already. ")

In what way is it not working?

__________________
Trust me, I'm a socialist!

There's power in a factory,power in the land, power in the hand of the worker. But it all amounts to nothing if together we don't stand, there is power in a union.
The union forever defending our rights, down with the blackleg, workers unite. To our brothers and our sisters in many far off lands, there is power in a union.
Money speaks for money, the devil for his own. - Billy Bragg

The problems that I have already stated.

But you have no evidence that people are making uninformed votes, and your argument about being forced seems weak given the effort needed to vote, which seems to be even less in Australia than in Britain ir America (from what i gather).

__________________
Trust me, I'm a socialist!

There's power in a factory,power in the land, power in the hand of the worker. But it all amounts to nothing if together we don't stand, there is power in a union.
The union forever defending our rights, down with the blackleg, workers unite. To our brothers and our sisters in many far off lands, there is power in a union.
Money speaks for money, the devil for his own. - Billy Bragg

It was in concept. I think it is safe to say that there are at least some uninformed voters there. Mandatory voting makes those people have to vote. Increased uninformed voters is harmful to the system. The force argument is a principal argument.

as i have heard in australia, the opposition to compulsory voting tends to be theoretical.

the ignorance argument is i think not good enough. there are plenty of uninformed americans who vote, and plenty of informed ones who do not. in australia, it is the electoral commissions responsibility to ensure there is information available at the polling place, so ingorance on the day is no excuse.

the forcing argument is i think equally flawed. you are, as i said before, not forced to actually vote, nobody checks to see if you filled out the ballot paper properly, you can do what you like with it. but it is compulsory that you attend on the day and get given one to do what you like with. there are plenty of laws that we are all required to follow that infringe on freedoms in small ways. this is no different. voting is still your choice, it is just a legal requirement that you get that choice.

the system aims to deliver a secret ballot to everyone without interference. the law means everyone gets the opportunity. the electoral commission visits hospitals, prisons, nursing homes, etc and there is nobody who would like to vote who can say they were not given the chance.

why is it good? i can equally ask why would we be better off without the compulsory system? would we have more freedom? would society be a better place? unlikely. at best, compulsory voting is irrelevant, but there is little to say it is harmful.