compulsory voting - Page 7 - Political Fever

hot dragon · #61 (**permalink**) 04-16-2008, 11:48 PM

it just occured to me, we have federal and state governments in which we are required to vote, but local councils too, in which we are not required to vote (there are some exceptions to this around the country)

local councils are rife with corruption, rigging, waste, inefficiency, partisanship and personal feuds. they are the biggest joke among our various governments. sure the higher levels of government are not immune to this, but it is less evident (generally). i wonder if we would see better quality local government if we were required to vote there, and less quality state and federal governments if we were not required to.

(not that the previous government could possibly have been of lesser quality, but i speak in general terms.)

xjoe3x · #62 (**permalink**) 04-17-2008, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hot dragon

it just occured to me, we have federal and state governments in which we are required to vote, but local councils too, in which we are not required to vote (there are some exceptions to this around the country)

local councils are rife with corruption, rigging, waste, inefficiency, partisanship and personal feuds. they are the biggest joke among our various governments. sure the higher levels of government are not immune to this, but it is less evident (generally). i wonder if we would see better quality local government if we were required to vote there, and less quality state and federal governments if we were not required to.

(not that the previous government could possibly have been of lesser quality, but i speak in general terms.)

I doubt it. It seems that local government is easier to corrupt in general. Less people watching.

xjoe3x · #63 (**permalink**) 04-17-2008, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hot dragon

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.

Well I do not know any informed ones that do not, it seems that if you care enough to become informed most of the time you care enough to vote.
Is the information there biased in any way? How much info is there? Just because it is there does not mean the people that do not care anyway are going to look at it. I do not think that because some other laws does a wrong that makes it is ok. You are forced to attend you pretty much are forced to vote. You could not but they forced you to come. Everyone gets that choice without being forced to go.

I think there should be good reason for any law, not the other way around. As in they should have a very good reason to make something into law, not think "hey why not". Well of coarse there would be more freedom. Would society be a better place? I think so.

Wombat · #64 (**permalink**) 04-23-2008, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hot dragon

in australia, we have a system of compulsory voting. if you are on the electoral role, you are legally required to attend on polling day and vote. this has been the law since 1901 when australia began as a federated nation.

i am interested in how others feel about this arrangement. how would you feel if voting was compulsory? do you think it makes any difference?

It is compulsory by Federal and State laws to register to vote once you turn 18 years old. Then you must vote. Failing to vote leads to a fine. Failing to pay the fine leads to court with convictions leading all the way upto a very short stay in Her Majesties Hotel(prison).

Compulsory voting does not making politicians more accountable, nor does it make us protected from dictatorial scum. What it does, is force people into voting who don't want too, they don't see what is important to them so they either just vote for whoever or, cast an invalid vote.

What it does do, is guarantee a wider perspective on the minds of the voter.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

User Name		Remember Me?
Password