Enforced Voting

[hooplala]

I think the idea is patent bullshit.  It would seem to me to force people to vote would not improve anything other than 'voter turnout', and would possibly put even bigger morons in charge, due to revenge voting.

Am I wrong?

[bds]

I agree. The last general election here had a turnout of ~65% and I'm quite happy with that. Don't see how forcing people to vote would accomplish anything.

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

It's a very bad idea, in my opinion.

[Doktor Howl]

The less people that vote, the better.  It should be made more difficult, so only the fanatics vote.

Dok,
For Craziness in Government.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I'm not voting today, and the reason I'm not voting today is to piss off the people who get pissed off about people not voting.

I'm actually very pro-voting.

[Reginald Ret]

All voting should have a 'none of the above, i hate them all' option and uncast votes automatically go there.
if that option ever gets  over 60% -> no taxes that year!
Trust me, it is a good idea.
It couldn't possibly go horribly horribly wrong.

[Payne]

Personally, I like the idea of enforced voting. All these anti-government types will start decrying the government getting involved in areas where it shouldn't and start militantly fight against voting in the name of FREEDOM.

[Reginald Ret]

It would be hilarious.

[AFK]

Mandatory voting seems like a bad idea in practice.  It seems like it would have a lot of potential for failure.  But then again, we do make certain kinds of civic engagement mandatory.  For example, jury duty.  Granted, jury duty doesn't happen every year, and for most people it is only once if ever at all. 

I would like to see Election Day become a national holiday though.  I think there are a lot of people who don't end up voting because they don't think they have the time, or because they truly don't have the time.  And there is still a lot of people who aren't aware of absentee and early voting. 

Essentially, the best course is to empower people to vote.  Try to minimize the barriers that prevent people from voting.  But ultimately, if the horse doesn't want to drink, you can't drag it to the trough. 

However, you should be able to give it a good smack when it complains later about being thirsty. 

[Placid Dingo]

Australia has this. It's great.

Basically it means that the government tends to put more effort into representing the needs of all people, rather than only the ones who bother to vote.

Also it is

1) laughable easy to avoid a fine. Some excuses that are accepted (I was busy having sex etc) are quite ridiculous.

2) NOT COMPULSORARY TO VOTE. It is compulsorary to turn up and take a vote card. Whether you vote 1 or draw a dick is up to you.

[Rumckle]

Actually you can both vote 1 and draw a dick if you like. As long as you don't write your name (or someone else's I guess) on the ballot it still counts.

eta: I forgot to vote at the last election and nothing came of it (it was a local election, so it doesn't really count anyway).

[Elder Iptuous]

Picture of a dick for Prez in '12!!!

[hooplala]

Actually you can both vote 1 and draw a dick if you like. As long as you don't write your name (or someone else's I guess) on the ballot it still counts.

eta: I forgot to vote at the last election and nothing came of it (it was a local election, so it doesn't really count anyway).

It's not exactly enforced voting, though, if its not... you know... enforced.

[Rumckle]

I guess it is more enforced voicing your opinion.
Also, if you keep getting fined you get your name taken off the electoral role.

[Jenne]

The less people that vote, the better.  It should be made more difficult, so only the fanatics vote.

Dok,
For Craziness in Government.

This.  At least the crazies get shit done.

Stupid, crazy shit, but they don't sit on their hands often.

And also this:

Mandatory voting seems like a bad idea in practice.  It seems like it would have a lot of potential for failure.  But then again, we do make certain kinds of civic engagement mandatory.  For example, jury duty.  Granted, jury duty doesn't happen every year, and for most people it is only once if ever at all. 

I would like to see Election Day become a national holiday though.  I think there are a lot of people who don't end up voting because they don't think they have the time, or because they truly don't have the time.  And there is still a lot of people who aren't aware of absentee and early voting. 

Essentially, the best course is to empower people to vote.  Try to minimize the barriers that prevent people from voting.  But ultimately, if the horse doesn't want to drink, you can't drag it to the trough. 

However, you should be able to give it a good smack when it complains later about being thirsty.