View Poll Results: Should voting be made compulsory?

Voters
53. You may not vote on this poll
  • Yes

    19 35.85%
  • No

    34 64.15%
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Thread: Should voting be made compulsory?

  1. #97
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    Re: Should voting be made compulsory?

    My ex housemate went to vote Labour for the last European elections. On his way out I asked a simple question. "Can you name a single policy for the party you're about to vote for"? He couldn't, yet still went to vote. He then went on to have the audacity to have a go at me for not voting.

    I am not voting in the general election, nor am I currently on the electoral roll. There is no one party that is suitable and I trust none of them. I would however vote every time if there was a "none of the above" option that was recorded in some useful way. Currently the only statistics are "Didn't vote", "Defaced Paper" or "not registered", however this does not express the views of the non voter. For me, when there is a party or a manifesto that I both believe in and want to vote for it, I would, but right now I refuse to protest vote or put in power people that I simply do not trust.

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  3. #98
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    Re: Should voting be made compulsory?

    Institutionalising the vote might well give it a certain extra power or relevance because it begins to be something that enters everyone's lives and with an established process etc it might bring with it a bit more accountability. However, what sort of costs might be involved in this and how would it be enforced? As others have said, as things stand right now I think it's a 'no', but I admit there might be something worth serious consideration there.
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    Re: Should voting be made compulsory?

    Quite so, BHR.

    It's impossible to currently distinguish noting voting from apathy, from quite consciously not voting because you don't want to add to the mandate of any party, based on a competent analysis of policy, people, or both.

    It is also, of course, equally impossible to differentiate between someone putting a cross in a given candidate's box after a careful consideration of manifestos, and a comprehensive understanding of economic consequences, etc, from someone voting that way because they, or worse, their parents, always have.

    But that's the system we have. For better or worse.

  5. #100
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    Re: Should voting be made compulsory?

    Defacing paper is the recognised route for expressing none of the above, though there are presumably some people who accidentally spoil theirs too!

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    Re: Should voting be made compulsory?

    Quote Originally Posted by Galant View Post
    Institutionalising the vote might well give it a certain extra power or relevance because it begins to be something that enters everyone's lives and with an established process etc it might bring with it a bit more accountability. However, what sort of costs might be involved in this and how would it be enforced? As others have said, as things stand right now I think it's a 'no', but I admit there might be something worth serious consideration there.
    It's funny, though, innit? We can't drive without passing a fairly stringent test, both practical and theory, yet we can opine on the nature of government, and help choose one, determing (among others) economic policy. Or even who gets to decide to take us to war.

    Hell, you can't even get a job flipping burgers without getting past an interview.

    Maybe we ought to have basic courses in, and qualifications for, citizenship. Or at least, franchised citizens.

  7. #102
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    Re: Should voting be made compulsory?

    Education, yes. That's actually part of my answer to the question I asked myself and listed in the other election thread - which I've yet to finish. Education is massive and nothing will change without it. Tests for citizenship though, that's another quagmire with some possibly fantastic results and some possibly horrific ones.
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  8. #103
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    Re: Should voting be made compulsory?

    It'd be great wouldn't it?

    Test for citizenship:
    Do you agree with Party Z's policies? Yes/No.

    Those who answered yes: congratulations, citizen, you may now vote.


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    Re: Should voting be made compulsory?

    Quote Originally Posted by Galant View Post
    Education, yes. That's actually part of my answer to the question I asked myself and listed in the other election thread - which I've yet to finish. Education is massive and nothing will change without it. Tests for citizenship though, that's another quagmire with some possibly fantastic results and some possibly horrific ones.
    Agreed.

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    Re: Should voting be made compulsory?

    Quote Originally Posted by kalniel View Post
    It'd be great wouldn't it?

    Test for citizenship:
    Do you agree with Party Z's policies? Yes/No.

    Those who answered yes: congratulations, citizen, you may now vote.

    Let me guess, if you agree, put a tick here, in the box [ ]



    An ideal question would be "Do you UNDERSTAND and agree with ....".

    Sub-optimal, but still better than status quo, is to get people to demonstrate they actually know what the main policies of the party they're voting for actually are, let alone agree with them.

  11. #106
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    Re: Should voting be made compulsory?

    Quote Originally Posted by Saracen View Post
    Let me guess, if you agree, put a tick here, in the box [ ]

    Close, but the box is already ticked for you. You have to erase the tick if you don't

    That should do it, but if in doubt they could add a disclaimer that any intention of agreeing with any other views results in automatic disqualification from voting, and if serious about them, jail. Instant citizen test and a election majority to equal Nork/Dobby.

  12. #107
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    Re: Should voting be made compulsory?

    Quote Originally Posted by kalniel View Post
    It'd be great wouldn't it?

    Test for citizenship:
    Do you agree with Party Z's policies? Yes/No.

    Those who answered yes: congratulations, citizen, you may now vote.

    Scary isn't it. Some would point to various regimes where just this kind of thing has/is taken place.

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