General Discussion

canetoad

(21,047 posts) Fri May 10, 2019, 03:07 AM May 2019

What's your view on compulsory voting? [View all]

Obama admired the concept on his last visit to Australia. Would it ever fly in the US?

I ask because I voted today. Our Federal election is still two weeks away, but all over the country, early voting stations are set up three weeks in advance. Technically, to vote early you are required to not be in your electorate on polling day. Practically, the Electoral Commission wants to make it as easy as possible for people to vote and thus avoid fines for non-voting.

They really do everything possible to make (compulsory) voting accessible to all; no ID requirements - you state your name and address and are asked if you've voted anywhere else. Voting details are updated automatically via data-matching with various Gov. agencies such as changing your vehicle registration address. Is this too Big Brother-ish for the US?

44 replies

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What's your view on compulsory voting? [View all] canetoad May 2019 OP

For it. mahina May 2019 #1

I'm against. NanceGreggs May 2019 #2

Admittedly, there is always a donkey vote canetoad May 2019 #5

not sure i agree. i think many people who don't vote are lazy types that lean democratic JI7 May 2019 #8

Where is the evidence ... NanceGreggs May 2019 #9

"lazy types that lean democratic" Skittles May 2019 #10

I have a young online friend last marlakay May 2019 #18

What works in Australia ... NanceGreggs May 2019 #36

A great Idea PuppyBismark May 2019 #3

Thanks for mentioning the one issue voters canetoad May 2019 #6

For it. nt. Dem2theMax May 2019 #4

for it. but in general we put individual wants before the needs of the many in the u.s. Kurt V. May 2019 #7

Can you imagine the magnitude of propaganda & bot-based social media campaigns if we had hlthe2b May 2019 #11

I was always against it but Thyla May 2019 #12

what works in Australia has no bearing on what works in america....I do believe beachbum bob May 2019 #13

I'm all for it! bamagal62 May 2019 #14

I think voting should be much easier - automatic registration, early voting, etc. - but I don't Vinca May 2019 #15

It does not work in a system with 50 different authorities jberryhill May 2019 #16

True dat Hekate May 2019 #20

It's the dumbest idea ever. Patterson May 2019 #17

Election day should be a federal holiday, and not a workday. Compulsory voting does not address... Hekate May 2019 #19

Even if it's a Federal Holiday forthemiddle May 2019 #25

Not compulsory shanti May 2019 #21

Against it forthemiddle May 2019 #22

The solution to the uninformed voter is strong local party committees. MH1 May 2019 #24

It should be mandatory for employers to provide sufficient time off. MH1 May 2019 #23

Good idea - but the Republicans have been making it almost impossible csziggy May 2019 #37

Yes, but if the law automatically increased the required time off, based on average voting wait time MH1 May 2019 #39

So long as there are paper ballots The_jackalope May 2019 #26

nope..nope nada and i would NOT vote on purpose if it was mandatory... samnsara May 2019 #27

I have mixed feelings about it, but the reality is that MineralMan May 2019 #28

It is a good idea since treestar May 2019 #29

my state votes all by mail. We have NO polling places and no election day hubbub... samnsara May 2019 #30

Probably a free speech violation. Goodheart May 2019 #31

I am more for compulsory civics classes pandr32 May 2019 #32

I've always said: "If you're too dumb to vote you're too dumb to vote." johnp3907 May 2019 #33

Against it for two reasons: dameatball May 2019 #34

Nope....I doubt a well educated County Justice would find it Constitutional. AncientGeezer May 2019 #35

It would violate the First Amendment. djg21 May 2019 #38

The 15th Amendment states that voting is a right. Cold War Spook May 2019 #40

Another thought. Cold War Spook May 2019 #41

You're right canetoad May 2019 #43

I'm for it. Iggo May 2019 #42

Against it, as I feel that it's undemocratic. Oneironaut May 2019 #44