Why do we not make voting mandatory?

Question

Why do we not make voting mandatory?
If we do not want to make it mandatory, then why do we not pay people to vote?

Why do people choose not to vote in the first place?

Answer 1

That sounds fasicst to me. I will decide whether to vote or not, and screw the government or anyone else telling me that I HAVE to vote, or HAVE to do anything else. If I choose not to vote, it's an informed decision, as in 2004, which I sat out.

People don't vote because they are doing OK. If the economy tanked today, we'd see 100% voter turnout. But the fact is, the economy is fine.

The government is like the plumbing - you don't pay attention to it or think about it until it starts springing leaks. As God intended.

Love Jack

Answer 2

You cant actually make voting mandatory, it's like having the death penalty for attempted suicide. People will just go to the ballot boxes and spoil there papers or just tick a box for the sake of it.

Some people choose not to vote because they consider that none of the parties have anything that would help the country - but I'd bet they'd be the first to complain if that right was taken away!

Answer 3

First Question: Because then we'd actually have to make it convenient and hassle free for folks to vote. Haven't you ever wondered why Election Day in the United States is on a Tuesday, and for the most part only goes on while people are *working*?

It's because the Politicians, and the Rich Men who own them, don't want *working people* to vote.

And the sad truth is, there are at least two or three other *big* and *deliberate* flaws in the voting system like that (butterfly ballots anyone?) that would be exposed as the fraud-enablers they are if we had *everyone* voting.

Still, I do like the idea, if the Aussies can make it work, why not us? :)

Second Question: This is actually against the law, it would amount to nothing more nor less than bribery by the incumbents. Consider for a moment...who is in charge of the Voting Officers? How about getting information out there regarding elections and insuring that the elections themselves are fair?

The Registrar's Office usually. And last I checked, at least in my state that was an elected position. :( Not good. And now you want people getting *paid* to vote courtesy of that office, that elected office? Not good, because I can just see it now how easily the system would get abused, in an effort to shut some voters out, and keep some voters "locked in".

As in, I'd bet that even in the 21st century, urban, non-white, underemployed voters would *never* get paid, while suburbanites and the redneck folks out in the countryside would *get theirs* like clockwork.

That's just not a good idea, sorry. I mean, even if you set it up so that a totally objective third party *not* involved in politics handled the payouts, and even if the system treated everyone 100% *identically*, not just fairly but *exactly the same regardless*, still, you'd have a system that would just tempt politicians too much away from Fair Play.

Third Question: Because voting is a decision, and if you take it seriously at all *like you should*, it is one that requires some thought and some research, and most folks a) don't have the time to do their own research courtesy of being overworked and constantly harrassed on *work and money issues*, and/or b) can't be bothered to do their own thinking when it comes to issues apart from the immediate concerns of "me and mine", or what goes on directly in their own backyard.

Meaning, voting, when done right, is *work*.

Combine that with the "evil of two lessers" approach that American winner-take-all politics implies, and well, you have a lot of frustrated folks who, *even if* they'd want to do the work, they look at the candidates that are out there and assume it is *completely* not worth the trouble, that *nobody* out there even matches *half* of their agenda, never mind all of it.

Seriously, don't let the talking heads on Fox News or elsewhere in the Media fool you....there is a lot of taxation and *very little* real representation going on....and some *pretty BIG* mismatches going on between the politicians we *have* running, and the party platforms we *have* going, on one hand, and what *people generally want* out of their country on the other....

And for that? Follow the Money. Look to the CEOs and to the corruption they engender. It's not *all* Big Oil's fault, or Big Banking's fault, or Big Drug Companies & HMOs fault, or Big Religion's fault....but combine those four, and yeah, you have 90% of the problems *covered*.

Just saying...not that there is a lot to do about it now, we sort of had our last best chance taken *away* from us some five years ago. :(

Answer 4

Would you really want to force people to vote? Think about it. Most of the American public have NO idea what the issues are, who the candidates are, and what they are voting for to begin with. To force the uninterested majority to vote would have the same effect as letting monkeys have the vote - they'd choose without a bit of thought invested into it just to be able to go back home, sit on their couches and catch the latest episode of AMERICAN IDOL.

Paying people to vote is just as bad. The reason that isn't legal is that it would be all too easy for politicians and special interest groups to take advantage of peoples' greed by reimbursing them for their vote.

As it stands, it's a flawed system, but - it's all we've got...

Answer 5

Voting is a priviledge that this country and many others have. If we make it mandatory, then the US will become like other countries like Iran or North Korea. If we pay them to vote, then what would stop anybody from paying them to vote for him?

Answer 6

It is against the law not to vote in the National Elections in Costa Rica.

But here - if were made mandatory both parties would lose some of their leverage on intimidating the voters more so than the Republicans do now.

Lots of reasons why folks don't vote. Some feel that their vote does not count, some think that both parties are basically as crooked as the other. And then some are just too lazy.

Lo Siento

Answer 7

needed balloting would motivate human beings to take a greater lively pastime of their usa. i'm for needed yet I additionally desire to terminate the electoral college that shows the voters are not qualified to choose for the President. All this communicate approximately voter fraud is nutty whilst one considers how bribing a handful of electoral college votes can critically sway the path of a different election. as an occasion ... the biggest key in this election is Ohio. If a candidate could restoration Ohio's EC votes that candidate will become the renowned. GWB lost the favored vote in 2000 however the EC votes in Fla. positioned him over the best. How do all of us understand if there became any humorous organization in George's brother Jeb's State of Fla.? one subject i've got discovered is how money/capability would properly be greater significant than integrity.

Answer 8

Do you think you actually want people who don't care enough now to vote? I seriously doubt anyone would like the results. The ONLY way to increase voter participation is to educate potential voters. If people truly understand the consequences of their votes, most will not need any additional incentive. Those that still don't wish to vote are getting exactly what they are asking for.

Answer 9

As the best Question i have read all day, I believe we should make voting mandatory. We should also lower the voting age to 16. This will allow the majority of the population to vote.

Answer 10

you must understand that to vote is to excercise your will. This is a positive statement.
Let me say it the other way, not to vote is to excercise your protest. This is a negative statement, but positively it also means to excercise your will.
Thus to vote for one party, to vote for the other party or not to vote at all are all part of right to vote. Therefore you cannot make voting mandatory. I hope you have understood the concept clearly.